With the transition in many exporting countries to liberalized marketing systems care is needed to ensure that the benefits of increased market flexibility are not jeopardized by the elimination of necessary functions previously undertaken by marketing boards and similar regulatory bodies.
Besides this the coffee sector in many exporting countries consists of large number of smallholder farmers who need assistance to develop their capacity to compete in the market, get access to commercial credit, cope with price volatility through risk management and generate benefits to their communities. In certain importing markets the Organization may also be able to assist, through training and educational programmes, in improving expertise and trading methods and in facilitating contacts with suppliers in exporting Member countries.
In the interests of a healthy and competitive trading economy it is important that traders in producing countries have the necessary degree of commercial expertise, access to credit and appropriate legal framework to function effectively. The Organization also seeks to evaluate and if appropriate propose new instruments of international cooperation designed to further the aims identified in the Agreement.
Study: Marketing and trading policies & systems in selected coffee-producing countries
Coffee market development & trade promotion in East Africa
Coffee price risk management in Eastern and Southern Africa
Short and medium term finance for small-scale coffee farmers in Africa