Destaca que el desarrollo agroindustrial constituye la unica salida para la modernizacion agricola, ya que la puesta en marcha de agroindustrias arrastra e incorpora la tecnologia al campo y la hace rentable. Es por esta razon, que los elementos de desarrollo agroindustrial e instrumentos incentivadores deben ser coherentes y permitir integrar las partes que constituyen las empresas agroindustriales. Presenta el marco conceptual de la agroindustria, indicando que se fundamenta en tres elementos integrados y vinculados entre si: produccion primaria, industrializacion y la comercializacion, todo ello en funcion de los mercados. Analiza el rol de la agroindustria como sistema para el diseno de politicas, las formas asociativas de produccion (FAS) y la agroindustria, senalando la razon del por que, entre las empresas privadas, las FAS (cooperativas, asociaciones, etc.) son las que han tenido mayor dificultad para establecer empresas agroindustriales. Finalmente, explica la estrategia que permita la instalacion y desarrollo de empresas agroindustriales en una region o en un pais, para lo cual es necesario considerar el marco institucional, tanto a nivel estatal como privado. Describe este enfoque agroindustrial intersectorial e interinstitucional

Senala que la complejidad del sector agricola, y en particular la agroindustria rural, dada las multiples relaciones que establece con otros sectores de la produccion y el consumo, hacen necesario definir un enfoque mas adecuado para enfrentar la tarea de la comercializacion de los productos que genera dicha agroindustria. Destaca el enfoque denominado hacia el mercado, el cual considera, de manera inmediata, la incorporacion de elementos de mercadeo en la fase de planificacion de un sistema de comercializacion eficaz y eficiente. Explica que para establecer dicha planificacion, es basico que la actividad agroindustrial, aun en su ambito rural, asuma una accion mas integral respecto a como enfrentar un proceso productivo y como enfrentar la actividad del mercado. Esta vision integral implicara, en primer lugar, caracterizar el mecanismo de transferencia de los productos hacia sus consumidores finales. En este marco destaca una serie de aspectos a considerar, tales como: la eleccion de los mercados para la agroindustria (institucionales, convencionales, internacionales, alternativos, de autoconsumo); la eleccion del producto, determinacion de precios y, canales de distribucion

The transition to adulthood is marked by interrelated changes in the areas of education, employment and family formation. Using frameworks on gendered transitions to adulthood and links between assets and livelihoods, we analyse nationally representative, sex-disaggregated data from 42 countries to characterize rural youths’ transition to adulthood by gender and according to a four-category typology of low and high levels of structural and rural transformation. Overall, we find that young women and men experience the transition to adulthood differently according to the structural and rural transformation classification of the countries where they live. Across all structural and rural transformation categories, young women are more likely to be married and living with their spouses or in-laws, less likely to be in school or employed, and less likely to own land solely. Gender gaps in secondary school education favour young women only in countries with higher levels of structural and rural transformation, and favour young men in the other three categories. Moreover, a larger proportion of young women than young men are not in education, employment, or training (NEET), but many NEET youth, especially young women, have transitioned into domestic and reproductive roles (i.e. are more likely to be married and/or have children.) Additionally, we review impact evaluations of interventions targeting youth. We find limited evidence on the gendered impacts of such programmes, and these programmes seldom consider how constraints differ for young men and young women. Addressing gaps in programmes and building an evidence base on the gendered impact of interventions can provide insights into how gender roles can simultaneously limit options and offer opportunities to young rural women and men in the context of structural and rural transformation.

The study examined livelihoods and wealth distribution among farm households in western Kenya. Stratified random sampling was used to select 252 households from eight districts. Focus group discussions were used to collect complementary community-level data. Results indicate that average household size was seven persons. The cropping system was over 70% mixed. Agriculture was the main source of livelihoods. Labour was mainly allocated to crop enterprises, with household heads allocating > 50% of their labour to it. Maize (Zea mays) and common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) were the most important staple/traded food crops. Poultry, followed by cattle dominated livestock enterprises. Few households diversified into small businesses, employment and artisan to enhance livelihoods. Despite this, 5 – 95% of people remained food insecure. Lack of cash and limited land access were the most important factors constraining agricultural development. Although, most households preferred selling produce in markets where prices were better, many not only sold produce but purchased inputs from nearest towns due to high costs of accessing better price markets. Wealth inequality among households was very high, with household wealth Gini-coefficient of 0.52 and per capita wealth Gini-coefficient of 0.55, calling for better interventions targeting to reach most vulnerable/marginal groups and create all-inclusive opportunities.