Increase incomes and make markets work for the poor [Recommendation six]

The food-insecure suffer from the inaccessibility of food, either because they

cannot produce enough themselves or because they cannot afford to buy or

equitably exchange for it in markets. Rural populations in many developing

countries-especially poor smallholder farmers in remote areas and in land-

locked countries-are often inadequately served by input and output mar-

kets. As a result, farm-gate prices are higher for inputs and lower for outputs

than they would be if markets operated efficiently. Well functioning markets

can ensure that people earn an income, sell their products and services at fair

prices, and have reliable access to affordable, nutritious food to feed their

families.