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KEY ECONOMIC ISSUES
The production strategy, development and management of a smallholder enterprise engaged in export crop production is critical to its sustainability. Points to consider include:
| 1. | Does it pay? When creating new market opportunities for smallholders, the issues of greatest concern to them are the terms of trading - including a fair share of the price, fair terms of trade and fair arrangements. |
| 2. | Is labour included in the costings? Uncosted labour, not least the farmer's own, is a common feature of smallholder production, and a key factor in smallholder competitiveness in comparison with large-scale commercial operations. |
| 3. | What are the activities (tasks and time allocation) which contribute to export crop production, and who carries them out (by gender and age)? |
| 4. | Does competition with food crops exist? What are the important subsistence crops and who controls them in periods of stress? |
| 5. | What non-agricultural enterprises are a source of income or other benefit and how do they compare (profitability, reliability, and seasonality) with crops grown for export? |
More Information: Market Linkages
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Resources Institute 2003