The development potential of anchor enterprise models in Malawi

Smallholder-centered agricultural development strategies have had limited success in Malawi over the past several decades. Policy makers are now increasingly looking for alternative ways to accelerate agricultural and rural development. One emerging approach involves larger farms or agri-business fi...

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Main Authors: Benson, Todd, Cockx, Lara, De Weerdt, Joachim
Format: Brief
Language:Inglés
Published: International Food Policy Research Institute 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178508
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author Benson, Todd
Cockx, Lara
De Weerdt, Joachim
author_browse Benson, Todd
Cockx, Lara
De Weerdt, Joachim
author_facet Benson, Todd
Cockx, Lara
De Weerdt, Joachim
author_sort Benson, Todd
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Smallholder-centered agricultural development strategies have had limited success in Malawi over the past several decades. Policy makers are now increasingly looking for alternative ways to accelerate agricultural and rural development. One emerging approach involves larger farms or agri-business firms partnering with smallholder farming households, in what we will refer to as an anchor enterprise model. Support for such partnerships is growing, but there is still little clarity on what they involve, what they aim to achieve and the conditions they need for success. Summarizing findings from a detailed report (Benson, Cockx, and De Weerdt, forthcoming). This policy note seeks to address these questions and provide guidance for future action. We structure our discussion around five questions: what the model is, when it can make sense, for whom it can work, how it can be implemented, and whether it can contribute to inclusive rural development.
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spelling CGSpace1785082025-12-04T02:08:34Z The development potential of anchor enterprise models in Malawi Benson, Todd Cockx, Lara De Weerdt, Joachim development enterprises contract farming farming systems Smallholder-centered agricultural development strategies have had limited success in Malawi over the past several decades. Policy makers are now increasingly looking for alternative ways to accelerate agricultural and rural development. One emerging approach involves larger farms or agri-business firms partnering with smallholder farming households, in what we will refer to as an anchor enterprise model. Support for such partnerships is growing, but there is still little clarity on what they involve, what they aim to achieve and the conditions they need for success. Summarizing findings from a detailed report (Benson, Cockx, and De Weerdt, forthcoming). This policy note seeks to address these questions and provide guidance for future action. We structure our discussion around five questions: what the model is, when it can make sense, for whom it can work, how it can be implemented, and whether it can contribute to inclusive rural development. 2025-12-03 2025-12-03T19:03:21Z 2025-12-03T19:03:21Z Brief https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178508 en Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Benson, Todd; Cockx, Lara; and De Weerdt, Joachim. 2025. The development potential of anchor enterprise models in Malawi. MaSSP Policy Note 54. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178508
spellingShingle development
enterprises
contract farming
farming systems
Benson, Todd
Cockx, Lara
De Weerdt, Joachim
The development potential of anchor enterprise models in Malawi
title The development potential of anchor enterprise models in Malawi
title_full The development potential of anchor enterprise models in Malawi
title_fullStr The development potential of anchor enterprise models in Malawi
title_full_unstemmed The development potential of anchor enterprise models in Malawi
title_short The development potential of anchor enterprise models in Malawi
title_sort development potential of anchor enterprise models in malawi
topic development
enterprises
contract farming
farming systems
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178508
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