Agricultural Marketing Policy.

The Agricultural Marketing Policy is a national policy with a cross-sectoral approach. The overall objective of the Agricultural Marketing Policy is to establish competitive, efficient and equitable agricultural marketing system, including sectors such as crop production, animal husbandry, fishery, forestry and apiculture.
Food security will be ensured through the establishment of small-scale agro-processing businesses and rural agro-based industries. Thus, in compliance with food hygiene as well as sanitary standards, food will be provided to all at affordable prices.
Involvement of women and youth will be encouraged in all agricultural marketing related activities. Agricultural marketing infrastructure in rural areas will be developed. This Policy underlines that agricultural marketing will generate employment opportunities, as well for rural youth. Poverty reduction will be achieved through agricultural growth.
This Policy stresses on (i) value addition in agricultural production, (ii) quality improvement and standards of agricultural products, (iii) reinforcement of legal, regulatory and institutional framework, (iv) capacity building of entrepreneurs, (v) agricultural marketing infrastructure, (vi) agricultural marketing information services, (vii) risk management in agricultural marketing, (viii) financial market support services, (ix) market linkages in regional and international level, (x) mitigation of the adverse effects of cross-cutting issues, and (xi) environmental protection. Private sector investments in production, processing and marketing will be promoted to achieve agricultural growth. The Agricultural Marketing Information Services (AMISs) will be strengthened to enhance timely, demand-driven collection, analysis, storage, and dissemination of marketing information. Primary agro-processing and value-addition chains will be promoted. Fair and free marketing of food and cash crops will be enhanced. Market linkages between local and foreign firms will be strengthened. Capacity building of smallholder producers and small-scale traders and processors will be ensured in the fields of management and marketing. Training in entrepreneurial and marketing skills will be improved for agricultural marketing stakeholders. Awareness of quality, standards and grades will be created. An institutional framework will be established to improve performance of the agricultural marketing systems based on needs assessments.
This Policy will be implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Cooperatives, Ministry of Livestock Development and Fisheries, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Marketing, Ministry of Water and Irrigation, Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism and the Prime Minister’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government, in collaboration with the other ministries, departments and agencies. The overall responsibility for monitoring and evaluation of implementation of the Agricultural Marketing Policy was allocated to the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Marketing working in close collaboration with other lead Ministries in agricultural sector.