A Living Income for Small-Scale Farmers: Tackling unequal risks and market power

The ability of small-scale farmers to earn a living income is critical to ensure their viability and economic success. This paper argues that closing the living income gap for small-scale farmers requires tackling the underlying imbalance in risk and market power that many of them face when engaging in global food value chains. This imbalance is not accidental, but reinforced by the way individual supply chains, commodity sectors, and public policy agendas are set up and operate. The paper identifies entry points for lead buyers to help close income gaps for small-scale farmers.