LOJK10292U Agricultural Value Chains in Developing Countries
MSc Programme in Agricultural Economics
MSc Programme in Sustainable Development in Agriculture (Agris Mundus)
Development of the agricultural sector is recognized as an
important factor in the economic growth of most developing
countries. As a consequence of the increasing globalization and
internationalization of markets, farmers and agribusiness
enterprises in developing countries are becoming increasingly
integrated in global value chains. The recognition of the
importance of the agricultural sector, including agribusinesses,
has led to a growing interest among governments and development
agencies in supporting business development and integration of
farmers in markets. Local farmers and agribusinesses are offered
new opportunities by increasing urbanization and globalization;
however, participating in local as well as global markets is not
without challenges as farmers are often faced with many
institutional and economic barriers.
Professionals working in the agricultural sector need to understand
the inherent complexity of agriculture-based value chains and the
dynamic interaction among different types of actors. In this course
we aim to provide the participants with knowledge and skills to
analyze agricultural value chain development in developing
countries. The course will address the following main topics:
• The nature and role of the agricultural sector in developing
economies, as well as the nature of its markets including consumer
behavior and retail structures
• Financial instruments and investment mechanisms used in
agribusiness
• Different concepts of agricultural value chains
• Different value chain analysis approaches for value chain
development and research
• Value chain trade-related issues such as value addition, value
distribution, and innovation and upgrading
• Value chain management-related issues such as chain governance,
the institutional setting, and the enabling environment
• Value chain interventions from different actors including NGOs,
and businesses, e.g. international traders, wholesalers, and
retailers
• Strategies for enhancing smallholders’ access to markets
including different types of social and commercial organization,
such as associations, partnerships and outgrowing schemes
• Gender, environment and poverty in the agriculture and
agribusiness development
By focusing on agricultural value chains analysis, the course will
target students that want to obtain an understanding of the
mechanisms regulating agribusiness in developing countries. The
students will perform mapping and characterization of
agricultural-based value chains. The course will be useful for
professionals working in international agricultural development
organizations, donor organizations, public agencies, national
extension services, agribusiness development services, and private
agribusiness enterprises.
After completing the course the students should be able to:
Knowledge:
• Describe and define theoretically value chain-related terminology
• Refer theoretical streams of the value chain literature
• Show overview of major approaches in value chain analysis
• Reflect on the complexity of institutional and management
dynamics of the agricultural sector in developing countries
• Describe the social and economic importance of agriculture in
economic development in developing countries
Skills:
• Collect and process relevant information for analyzing
agricultural value chains
• Reason about the institutional and management dynamics in the
agribusiness sector
• Discuss policy and management tools for upgrading and developing
agriculture and agribusiness
• Discuss the feasibility of interventions for upgrading and
developing agricultural value chains
• Communicate ideas for agricultural value chain development in
developing countries to stakeholders
• learn in an interactive learning environment
Competencies:
• Analyze the economic importance of agriculture in a developing
country economy
• Apply relevant theories to analyze complex institutional and
agribusiness systems
• Apply the value chain analyses approaches to design upgrading
interventions
• Analyze and identify potential improvements of the institutional
environment for supporting agricultural value chains
• Decide and argue for theories to apply in specific value chain
analyses
• Assess and reflect on own learning
outcome
Will be announced in Absalon
- Category
- Hours
- E-Learning
- 10
- Exam
- 12
- Lectures
- 30
- Preparation
- 44
- Project work
- 80
- Theory exercises
- 30
- Total
- 206
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- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Written assignment, made during the blockOral examination, 20 minutesThe individual assignment is based on a group project and must be handed in prior to the oral exam. In the oral exam, each student has a maximum of 15 minutes available. During the oral examination the student will be asked to elaborate and discuss specific issues related to the student’s individual assignment. The final grade is calculated as an average of the grading of the individual assignments (50%) and of the oral exam (50%). Students pass if the average grade is passed.
- Exam registration requirements
- Participation in the group presentation is compulsory in order to attend the written exam.
- Aid
- Without aids
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- External censorship
- Re-exam
- Same as ordinary
If the student has not participated in the group presentation, the student will be examined on the basis of the entire course syllabus.
Criteria for exam assesment
Fullfilment of Learning Outcome is required to obtain the grade
12
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- LOJK10292U
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 1 block
- Placement
- Block 4
- Schedule
- B
- Course capacity
- Ingen begrænsninger
- Continuing and further education
- Study board
- Study Board of Natural Resources and Environment
Contracting department
- Department of Food and Resource Economics
Course responsibles
- Thi Minh Thai (4-7e7a7f79517a7783803f7c863f757c)
Lecturers
John Rand
Henning Otte Hansen
Carsten Nico Hjortsø