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Abstract
Recent empirical findings suggest that empowerment of producer organizations (POs) in
agriculture requires an effective targeting and case-specific design of development
interventions. By viewing PO as a socio-economic network, we develop an agent-based
modeling approach for ex-ante impact assessment of PO support interventions. The paper
demonstrates the application of the approach to the example of coffee producers from Uganda
and analyzes one of their sub-county level networks more closely. The simulation model is
implemented with stakeholder involvement through interactive net-map sessions. The
simulation experiments reflect the interventions that are being implemented or considered for
implementation by ongoing research of the International Food Policy Research Institute
(IFPRI). The predicted effects of interventions are displayed at the levels of the producer
organization and individual farming households, emphasizing the importance of careful
implementation of future motivation schemes.