Understanding the commercializing farmer in developing countries

Successful agricultural development in developing countries requires farmers gradually to change from subsistence to commercial farming. During the transition period they can be called commercializing farmers. Farmers in these circumstances face major changes in their life styles and must learn numerous new skills, requirements often not recognized by change agents. They also have several unique economic characteristics not found among farmers who have completed the change to commercial farming. Successful response by commercializing farmers requires policy approaches which recognize these unique characteristics.