Wageningen Centre for Development Innovation is organizing a three-week course, from September 23 till October 11, 2019, aimed at professionals interested in the promotion of farmer-inclusive agribusiness. Central question of the course is how farmers can improve their income and well-being through effective collective action of their organisations and improved relations with other stakeholders.

The context

Family farms constitute the majority of the world’s small and medium enterprises. These farms (have to) produce the food for a rapidly growing and increasing urban population. Through collective action of their organisations, farmers can improve their performance and income. Facilitators, equipped with practical approaches and tools, can do more to support farmers and their organisations.

The course

The course perceives farmers as autonomous entrepreneurs and their organisations as farmers’ business organisations. Both operate in dynamic market systems and have to deal with a range of public and private sector players, such as sourcing companies, banks and MFI’s, agro-input dealers, research, extension and others. The central question of the course is how farmers can improve their income and well-being through effective collective action of their organisations and improved relations with other stakeholders.

Course programme

For exploring how farmers can become partners in agribusiness, the course will discuss many complementary topics such as farmer entrepreneurship, governance of farmers’ organisations, economic services that these organisations can deliver to their members, stakeholder collaboration, policy environment, promoting farmer-inclusive value chain development. Much attention is given to the introduction and sharing of practical tools. The course is highly interactive and action-oriented. Participants have the opportunity to learn from the broad international experience of the trainers and from other course participants. They will relate course topics to their work situation and work on their ‘farmer business cases’.

Course objectives

Upon completion of the course participants will:

• Be familiar with state-of-the-art thinking about farmer entrepreneurship, farmers’ organisations and inclusive value chain development.
• Perceive “problems” as “opportunities to approve”.
• Consider alternative intervention strategies to support farmers and their organisations.
• Be capable of using operational approaches and practical tools for facilitating collective action and market engagement of farmers’ organisations in their professional work context.

Target audience

The three-week course is aimed at professionals interested in the promotion of farmer-inclusive agribusiness. Professionals from farmers’ organisations, governmental organisations, private sector, civil society organisations, universities, research and extension are welcome to join. Proficiency in English is required.

Further practical information

Please apply at the website of Wageningen Centre for Development Innovation. You will receive a confirmation and more information within a week. Candidates approved by the selection committee will receive an admission letter.

Fellowship

Wageningen Centre for Development Innovation is unable to assist in obtaining financial support, however for those who want to apply for an OKP/MENA Fellowship, Wageningen Centre for Development Innovation can provide with the full instructions and the web address for registration in ATLAS. ATLAS is the online application form for an OKP/MENA Fellowship. Eligibility can be checked at www.nuffic.nl/okp or www.nuffic.nl/mena. A limited number of scholarships is available and the deadline to apply for a fellowship is March 19, 2019. Location of the course is the Netherlands:  OKP/MENA Fellowships include travel and full board and lodging.