Lugg, David G.Lampietti, Julian A.Van der Celen, PhilipBranczik, Amelia2013-05-242013-05-242009978-0-8213-7931-8https://hdl.handle.net/10986/13541This report brings together lessons from previous studies, supplemented by new analysis. It frames the challenges facing the rural and agri-food sector in the Western Balkans to illustrate the directions for policies, now and in the future. Part one looks at the characteristics of the rural and agri-food sector today, its potential and its obstacles. Part two looks at the future of the agri-food sector and rural space. Value chains will change with more competitive imports, with larger retailers influencing value chains, and with farmers and processors needing to respond to these trends by producing goods that meet quality and safety standards consistently and reliably. These changes will drive the modernization of agriculture, leading to an agri-food sector with fewer and more productive farms. Beyond the agri-food sector, effective rural development programs will be needed to ensure that agriculture's modernization is balanced and equitable. Local authorities and rural communities will have to be involved in developing and implementing territorial strategies for leveraging the non-farm potential of rural areas. Food safety standards will become more important as countries strive to meet private and public standards, and climate change will introduce uncertainty and compel farmers to adapt. Part three provides a roadmap to help governments create a strong and healthy rural and agri-food sector able to respond to these challenges. It looks first at the strategy that should drive public spending in agriculture and the composition of that spending. It then looks at how governments can best provide public services to agriculture, in extension advisory services, agricultural information services, and agricultural education and research. The report's aim is to enable governments and donors to have a common vision of the goals and directions of their policies and programs. It identifies future threats and challenges to the sector, and provides a framework of outcomes and objectives to inform future government policies and donor assistance to the sector.en-USCC BY 3.0 IGOaccess to creditaccess to infrastructureagricultural areasagricultural developmentAgricultural Educationagricultural exportsagricultural extensionagricultural extension servicesagricultural growthagricultural informationagricultural information servicesagricultural inputsAgricultural landagricultural policiesAgricultural Policyagricultural producersagricultural productionagricultural production systemsagricultural productivityAgricultural ProductsAgricultural Researchagricultural research programsAgricultural Research Systemagricultural resourcesAgricultural Sectoragricultural servicesAgricultural SupportAgricultural tradeagricultural wagesagricultural workersagricultural yieldsAgricultureAgriculture OrganizationAgriculture PolicyAgriculture Researchanimal healthanimal productsanimal welfareanimalsarable landaverage wagesbeerbeveragesBrucellosiscapacity-buildingcapacity-building supportCattlecereal importscereal productioncerealsCGIARClimate Changecold chaincollective farmscommercial agriculturecommercial farmerscommercial farmscommoditiescompetitive grantsconsumer demandcredit marketscropcrop varietiescropsdairiesdairydairy sectordeterminant of povertydiseasesdiversificationeconomic growthemployment opportunitiesEuropean Commissionexport marketsFAOfarm incomesfarm sizefarm systemsfarm technologiesfarmerfarmer organizationsFarmersfarmingfarming seasonfeedfertilizersflourfood chainfood controlfood exportsfood importsfood marketsfood preparationfood pricesfood productfood productionfood productsfood qualityFood Safetyfood safety controlfood safety standardsfood safety systemFood Safety Systemsfood securityFood Supplyfood systemsfoodsForestryFruitfruit juicesfruitsglobal marketsGrainGrain ProductionGrocery productsHazardhigh-value productshousehold sizehuman capitalhygienehypermarketsincomeincome gapincome supportincome-generating opportunitiesindicators of povertyinnovationInsuranceinsurance marketsIntegrationirrigationlabelinglaboratoriesland ownershipland rightsland sizelarge farmslive animalslivelihoodsLivestockLivestock Productionliving standardsmarketingmeatmicrobiological criteriamilkmillsnational researchnew technologiesnonfarm incomeorganic foodsorganic producepackagingpesticidespestsplant healthpoorpoor peoplepoor rural areasPoverty ratepoverty ratespoverty reductionPrivate SectorProduction Systemsproduction technologyproductive farmsPublic Servicespublic spendingraw milkremote areasresearch centersresearch systemsrisk managementRuralRural Areasrural communitiesrural creditRural DevelopmentRural Development StrategiesRural Economiesrural economyrural employmentrural entrepreneursrural infrastructurerural inhabitantsrural peopleRural Phenomenonrural populationrural povertyrural residentsRural Sectorrural sectorsrural workerssafety netsmall farmerssmall farmssmallholder farmersSocial protectionsocial safety netssocial securitysoil degradationsoil managementStructural adjustmentStructural adjustment programssubsistencesupermarketsSustainable DevelopmentTechnical Assistancetemperature controlterritorial developmenttomatoestraceabilitytrade liberalizationtransaction coststransition economiesunemploymentUnited States Agency for International DevelopmentUSAIDvegetableswarwater useWorld Bank10.1596/978-0-8213-7931-8