Assessing the quality of agricultural market information systems: A self-assessment guide

Book excerpt: Over approximately the past 40 years, many developing countries invested in the establishment of agricultural market information systems or services (MIS). These systems or services were initially run by government agencies, but since the turn of the millennium private organizations have shown interest in providing data on a commercial basis. To date, however, these private services, while usually being more efficient than the government-run ones, have also largely depended on donor support for their continued operation. It has proved difficult to develop a profitable business model as many of the clients are small farmers and traders. Agricultural market information systems or services (MIS) can cover staples, horticultural crops, livestock, and export commodities. They are generally designed to collect, process, and disseminate or distribute data of relevance to farmers, traders and other buyers, such as processors, but the data they generate can also be used for a variety of purposes by governments, donors, international organizations and others.