Activating private intermediaries to improve technology adoption and market outcomes
Evidence from Honduras
Bibliographic Data
This practice note presents results from a pilot intervention in Honduras that tested whether activating private intermediaries and improving information flows could strengthen coordination and improve outcomes in coffee value chains. The intervention supported intermediaries in conducting quality assessments at the point of purchase and sharing results with producers and technical teams. Over 6,500 assessments were conducted, sending real-time feedback to farmers via SMS which stressed the impact that quality has on price while weekly reports were sent to technicians enabling more targeted technical assistance. While constraints limited the implementation of quality-based payments, the intervention improved relationships between producers and intermediaries and increased the responsiveness of technical assistance. The findings suggest that engaging intermediaries as information conduits can enhance technology adoption and coordination in fragmented markets. This model offers a scalable strategy for strengthening value chains in contexts where private intermediation dominates, with implications for improving inclusiveness and market performance
Developing country · Intermediary · Private sector · South asia · ICT Impact and Policies · Innovation and Socioeconomic Development · Microfinance and Financial Inclusion
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