Vision

Work and income in rural areas of developing countries are important factors in the struggle to alleviate poverty. Of the 1.2 billion farmers in the world, 95% live in developing countries. The efforts of farmers to increase production, processing and trade capacities can contribute significantly to the reduction of poverty. Producer organisations are often one of the driving forces behind this development. They are also responsible for ensuring that the interests of the primary producers are reflected in balanced agricultural policies that stimulate the agricultural sector. In this way, producer organisations can make a valuable contribution to economic development, democracy building and poverty reduction in these countries.

The members of in Agri-ProFocus recognise that producer organisations thus play an indispensable role. By supporting these organisations, the partners hope to contribute to achieving the first Millennium Development Goal: halving poverty by the year 2015.

The partnership aims to:

• make the provision of services to producer organisations more effective and problem-directed
• promote the exchange of knowledge on producer organisations and on working with them.

Many organisations currently provide support to producer organisations. Most have developed expertise in one specific area, such as consulting, financing, provision of credit, or research, and there is little coordination, cooperation or exchange of knowledge between them. It is often difficult, therefore, for a producer organisation in a developing country to know to whom it should direct its request for support. Searching for the right party to address can waste valuable time. A request may also comprise various components that cannot all be handled by one organisation alone, making it impossible for the producer organisation to obtain comprehensive support or advice. By working together, the organisations that make up Agri-ProFocus aim to improve this situation.