by
Andrew W. Shepherd
FAO AGRICULTURAL SERVICES BULLETIN
125
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Rome, 1997
The Role of Markets
Current and Historical Information
The Role of Current Information
Current Market Information and Spatial Arbitrage by Traders
Current Market Information and Farmers
Current Market Information and Small Traders
Historical Market Information and Temporal Arbitrage
Historical Market Information and Farmers
Historical Market Information and Policymakers
Using Current and Historical Market Information for Food Security
Chapter 3. Experiences with Market Information Services
Data Collection
Data Processing and Transmission
Dissemination
Utilisation
Duplication of Activities
Political and Other Interference
Charging for Market Information
Chapter 4. Setting Up a Market Information Service
The Institutional Structure
Ensuring Sustainability
Analysing the Marketing System and its Information Needs
Products and Markets
Market Information for Consumers
Who Should Collect Market Information?
How Often and When to Collect Market Information?
Product Varieties
Product Quality
Weights and Measures
Quantity, Stock and Other Information
Data Accuracy
Data Transmission and Processing
Dissemination
Utilisation of Data