Regional Markets

Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements
Fred Zaal, Jacqueline Sluijs, Aad van Tilburg, Roger Bymolt, John Belt (editors)
This book bundles the experiences of practitioners in the field seeking for creative solutions
to the world food problem: 9 billion mouths to be fed by 2050. They are the ones
exploring and finding solutions to food security and sustainable agricultural development
in innovative ways.
Smallholders form the lead in this book in which we try to show the importance of
local and regional commodity markets. Ten cases from Africa and Asia reflect the challenges
that smallholders encounter in practice. On the basis of these stories we try to
better understand the fast growing opportunities of local, national and regional food
commodity markets, and their impact on the development agenda. The practical storyline
is embedded in a theoretical framework, and by combining theoretical analysis
and practical know-how, we aim to demonstrate the real potential of these ‘regional
markets’ for promoting sustainable economic development and food security.
The basis for the publication was laid in a 5 day’s write clinic in 2011 in Arusha,
Tanzania in which people related to 4 internationally operating organisations: Action
Aid International, Fairtrade Africa, Royal Tropical Institute and Wageningen University
discussed, worked and did the initial writing. The write clinic was filmed as well. The
result, a 4 minute video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PROEXWJxjs8), portrays
the working process whereas the theme and content of the write clinic are captured in
written form, i.e. the publication that you have in hand. We are happy to share both the
book and video to be used as learning tools for future use.
MS-TCDC, Fair Trade South Africa, and KIT hosted the write clinic. The MS-TCDC
team led the general facilitation process under supervision of Bo Damsted, Delphine
Mugisha, and Anna Mmari. KIT, supported by WUR, represented by Prof. Aad van
Tilburg, provided for the facilitation content wise. The main input however came from
each and every individual participant. The core content was brought in by the case
owners and resource persons: Jeremiah Kipkering, Abel Lyimo, Helena Posthumus and
Kolawole Adebayo, Fatou Mbaye and Ibrahima Niasse, Ramata Niass, Moussa Faye,
Sidi Ba and Buba Kahn, Elton Mudyazvivi and Tsitsi Choruma, Jacqueline Mkindi
and Amani Temu, Aftab Alam Islam and Amirul Islam, Marcela Guerrero Casas, Anna
Hans Makundi, Joel Musarurwa and Kirsten Hjørnholm Sørensen, Susan Were, John
Mushoka, Celso Marcatto, Carlos Ruiz, Helle Løvstø Severinsen and Rutchi Tripati.
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