Abstract:

Many developing countries have been implementing economic reforms, leading to rapid growth. Adoption of market liberalization
policies, in addition to heavy farm subsidies in industrialized countries, has resulted in a situation of domestic markets being
exposed to a highly competitive global market. Thus, appropriate policies that enhance the competitiveness of smallholder
producers in developing countries are key to catalyzing and deepening the progress of agricultural and economic transformation
and poverty eradication. The synthesis reviewed what is meant by "policy research" and by “competitiveness", and summarised
recent achievements and gaps, lessons Jearnt and best practices for policy research to develop enabling policies and link
producers to markets. Policy research is a process aiming at change, the demand for which derives from the demand for
institutional change to improve the status quo. Suggestions for best practices for agricultural policy and market research that
can lead to effective policy formulation and institutional development, and enhance competitiveness and market access of
smallholder producers arc presented in this synthesis.