On the Necessity for Policy Analysis for Sustainable Value in Smallholder Agri-Food Supply Chains: A Developing Economy Case Study

To address persistent poverty among smallholder farmers, rigorous policy analysis is required to develop tailored interventions aimed at improving rural communities while ensuring food security. This research proposes a policy analysis framework to create sustainable value in smallholder Agri-Food Supply Chains (AFSCs) focusing on developing economies. As the overall approach in this paper, we used the case study research method along with inductive reasoning. The study finds 7 major policy categories (PCs) and 21 policy subcategories (PSs) that are crucial for smallholder AFSCs. Agricultural policies, land use policies, rural development policies, trade and market policies, environmental policies, social policies, and policies addressing climate change and resilience are all important policy categories. Each policy category is divided into subcategories, such as agricultural input incentives, land redistribution, infrastructure development, tariff policies, sustainable agriculture practices, social protection, and climate-smart efforts. To assess policy success, the research defines Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in four dimensions: social equality, economic viability, governance, and environmental sustainability. This research provides a foundation for future studies and policymaking aimed at enhancing the sustainability of smallholder AFSCs.