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To market, to market: understanding agriculture value chain participation by smallholder farmers in western Honduras
Fri, May 24, 5:45 to 7:15pm, TBAAbstract
There is growing interest by international development agencies and private companies in inclusive agriculture high value chains (HVC) as a strategy for improving livelihoods in Latin America. This paper focuses on understanding the possible barriers to value chain integration for smallholder farmers, and particularly women, in rural Honduras. The widespread nature of the inclusive value chain approach requires a more in-depth analysis to uncover potential pitfalls, especially regarding impoverished rural areas that are already marginalized. This research analyzes a household survey conducted in western Honduras in 2016 as part of a larger project, funded by USAID and the Feed the Future Horticulture Innovation Lab at UC Davis, on the potential for horticulture production to empower women. The paper analyzes the factors influencing the integration into the agriculture HVC by smallholder farmers in the six westernmost departments in Honduras. The survey was conducted in 562 households with both the man and woman heads of household and included questions related to demographics, market participation, agriculture production, gender perceptions, and the Abbreviated Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (A-WEAI). By examining farmers’ household livelihood strategies, decisions on market integration, production choices (including crop choice, inputs, and outputs) and corresponding gender decisions, this paper will inform conditions related to market participation and potential impacts of related intervention-based strategies. This paper addresses one key aspect of rural livelihood strategies, in inclusive value chains, to better understand the critical role agriculture production can have not only in rural Honduras but in similar contexts throughout Central America.