Rapid reconnaissance guidelines for agricultural marketing and food system research in developing countries

This paper develops guidelines for conducting RR on agricultural marketing components of food systems and is divided thematically into two sections: the first contains a discussion of the nature of RR and the second describes the processes by which it is accomplished. More specifically, chapters two through seven discuss, in turn, the analytical framework used in RR of commodity marketing systems, key areas of investigation during RR, analysis of prices and marketing margins, proxy variables and key indicators, and institutional and nonmarket factors in food systems. Chapters eight and nine discuss the preparation and implementation of RR surveys (selection of an RR team, research planning, review of the literature, analysis of secondary data, the elements of RR field work, selection of key informants, and information gathering techniques). Report preparation, presentation of findings, and follow-up to RR surveys are considered in chapter ten, and the limitations of rapid appraisal methods are addressed in chapter eleven. A 5-page bibliography is included. (Author abstract, modified)