Topic outline

  • Knowing how policies influence prices at different stages of the value chain, such as at producer, wholesale and retail level, is fundamental to determine if changes in policy are needed to encourage production or ensure food security.

    Through price incentives indicators, we can monitor the effects of agricultural policies to see whether they incentivise - or disincentivise - farmers or traders to produce or market an agricultural commodity.​

    This course explains how to produce these indicators, what data you need and how to calculate and analyse them in order to shape and optimise public policy for agri-food systems transformation.

    • System Requirements 

      The online version of this course runs on the latest versions of the major browsers, such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox and Apple Safari.

      The downloadable version only runs on Windows PC’s and no additional software is needed.

      • Audience

        This course is designed for you if you work in agricultural policy and development. The course is particularly interesting for: ​

        • Government officials, in particular, economists, policy analysts or researchers in ministries of agriculture, finance or trade.​
        • Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
        • FAO staff
        • University students/academia

        • You will learn about

          • Monitor the effects of policies on domestic prices in agricultural value chains
          • Calculate and analyse price incentive indicators for your country and commodities
          • Use your indicators to recommend changes in pricing policy

          • Course structure

            The course consists of 9 lessons, ranging from approximately 15-60 minutes duration each:

            • Lesson 1 - Introduction to MAFAP
            • Lesson 2 - Overview of food and agricultural policies
            • Lesson 3 - Introduction to Price Incentives Indicators
            • Lesson 4 - Criteria for selecting commodities and value chain context
            • Lesson 5 - Data needs and sources for Price Incentive Indicators
            • Lesson 6 - Calculating Price Incentives Indicators
            • Lesson 7 - Overview of Access Costs Gap and the Market Development Gap
            • Lesson 8 - Calculating Aggregate Indicators for group of commodities
            • Lesson 9 - Interpreting Price Incentives Indicators

            • Partners

              This course has been funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and USAID.

              • Digital Badge Certification

                To be granted a digital certification from the FAO e-learning Centre, you will have to take the final evaluation exam after you’ve finished a course.

                Our digital badge certifications verify that you have achieved the learning outcomes and competencies outlined in FAO e-learning courses.

                What is a digital badge?
                Digital badges are online visual representations of learned skills and achievements earned in learning environments. They have already been adopted widely across a range of sectors and are being used to recognize both accredited and non-accredited learning in formal, informal and non-formal settings.
                Badges can be displayed wherever earners want them on the web, and share them for employment, education or lifelong learning.


                Please click the link below to start the test: