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High-value horticulture in developing countries: Barriers and opportunities

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Abstract

High-value horticultural crops, including fruits, vegetables, flowers, aromatic plants and herbs, are key components of agricultural development and economic progress in developing countries. Tropical and subtropical fruit trees are normally grown in these areas, especially when they have a competitive advantage of being harvested when appropriate market windows occur. Intensive production systems, often involving intercropping of fruit trees and vegetables along with a staple grain crop such as maize, provide local population with a balanced, diverse, nutrient-rich diet, an increased income, improved health and well-being through reduction in poverty and malnutrition. This review focuses on three case studies in three continents, each of which has achieved remarkable success in a relatively short time: East Cape, South Africa; Chiapas State, Mexico; and the São Francisco River Valley, Northeast Brazil. Significant economic benefits accrued to smallholders, as well as locally and nationally in both Brazil and Mexico, while in South Africa final economic assessments have not been made, although smallholder farmers are receiving incomes that have not existed previously. Key elements in success of these projects included substantial initial funding from a Government or international source that enabled infrastructural development such as creation of irrigation systems in Brazil, selection and supply of quality planting material (propagated trees, plants, vegetable and flower seeds), provision of R&D expertise as well as extension specialists providing education and training. In addition, involvement of local farmers and communities, development of local farmer associations and 'champions' to provide leadership, addition of people with expertise in social, economic, technological, welfare and heritage knowledge is important for ongoing village progress and development. Major challenges exist in creation of a functional and efficient supply chain for postharvest handling, storage and transport, as well as creating stable and profitable market linkages for high-value horticultural products. The common elements in these projects have the potential to be transposed to other developing countries where they have the potential to serve as models for economic and social development.

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... According to [13] staple crops have commonly been the most important for cultivation by small-scale farmers in developing countries because they provide carbohydrates and calories that meet essential energy requirements. High-value crops (HVCs) also known as horticultural crops or non-traditional crops [14] are grown for food, nutrition, human health and wellbeing and include fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops. These crops are known to return a significant price premium per hectare or per unit compared to traditional staple food crops because they do not often form part of the customary diet of the local population and are largely grown for their cash values in domestic and export markets [13]. ...
... Small-scale farmers stand to gain higher incomes from farming if they diversify their activities and venture into the cultivation of HVCs as opposed to solely relying on staple crops which produce low earnings [14]. HVCs can also improve the ability of small-scale farmers to meet their household food security needs through incomes obtained from participation in local and export markets to purchase food for household consumption. ...
... The two farming systems in the study i.e., small-scale and large-scale are recog-nised as systems due to the multi-variable nature of the processes within the farms and the non-linear interconnectedness that exists between them. The commodities grown in these farming systems are recognized as HVC based on the definition provided by [14]. The four drivers of production i.e., land, labour, capital and enterprise drive the two farming systems and the pathway of agricultural enterprise i.e., production, management, marketing and value adding for each of the systems which have the potential to produce the same outcome in different ways. ...
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... The horticultural seed industry has become the most important of all the seed sectors as public demand for fresh and safe gardening crops has increased along with a growing interest in the promotion of general well-being, health, and quality of life (Weinberger and Lumpkin, 2007;Hewett, 2012). Although grain seeds currently have the largest share of the commercial seed market, many existing patents deal with the use of horticultural plants because horticultural seed production is more profitable than seed production for food grain crops (Weinberger and Lumpkin, 2007). ...
... To cater for this diversified and nutrient based diet, production systems are inclining towards the cultivation of high value crops. High value crops are regarded as those crops which yield a significant premium price per unit area when compared with traditional staple food crops (Hewett, 2012). These are also known as non-traditional or speciality crops which may include fruits, vegetables, medicinal, flower crops. ...
... Access to institutional credit was found to be negatively and significantly related with crop diversification. The likelihood of diversification is higher in farmers having access to public extension contacts and participation in training (Hewett, 2012). Households who sell their produce to one or more procuring agency were more likely to diversify their crop portfolios. ...
... Access to institutional credit was found to be negatively and significantly related with crop diversification. The likelihood of diversification is higher in farmers having access to public extension contacts and participation in training (Hewett, 2012). Households who sell their produce to one or more procuring agency were more likely to diversify their crop portfolios. ...
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The study used a large farm household level data to assess the economic impact of crop diversification and also identifies the factors influencing the extent of diversification in the north east region of India. The crop sector was found to be skewed towards specialization. The result of instrumental variable technique showed that crop diversification has a positively significant impact on the income among the households. Further, fractional logit estimation found that variables like family members in the working age group, landholding size, crop loss experience, extension contact, participation in training positively affected diversification. Irrigated area, access to institutional credit, etc negatively affected the same. Diversification towards high value crops may accelerate the agricultural growth of the region and improve the wellbeing of the farmers. Measures for improvement of basic infrastructural facilities and extension services for improving backward and forward linkages are required.
... and participation in training(Hewett, 2012) with marginal effect values of 1.7 % and 5.2 %, respectively. Agricultural extension can play a major role in promotion of crop diversification through technical backstopping especially for non-traditional high value crops and its marketing avenues.Kasem & Thapa, 2011 found that in Thailand, extension services played a key role in helping farmers move away from rice-based monocropping towards crop diversification. ...
... Access to institutional credit is found to be negatively and significantly related with crop diversification. The likelihood of diversification is higher in farmers having access to public extension contacts and participation in training (Hewett, 2012). Households who sell their produce to one or more procuring agency are more likely to diversify their crop portfolios. ...
Preprint
The study used a large farm household level data to assess the economic impact of crop diversification and also identifies the factors influencing the extent of diversification in the north east region of India. The crop sector is found to be skewed towards specialization. The result of instrumental variable technique showed that crop diversification has a positively significant impact on the income among the households. Further, fractional logit estimation found that variables like working household members, landholding size, crop loss experience, extension contact, participation in training positively affected diversification. On the other hand, irrigated area, access to institutional credit, etc negatively affected the same.
... Access to institutional credit is found to be negatively and significantly related with crop diversification. The likelihood of diversification is higher in farmers having access to public extension contacts and participation in training (Hewett, 2012). Households who sell their produce to one or more procuring agency are more likely to diversify their crop portfolios. ...
... Access to institutional credit was found to be negatively and significantly related with crop diversification. The likelihood of diversification is higher in farmers having access to public extension contacts and participation in training (Hewett, 2012). Households who sell their produce to one or more procuring agency were more likely to diversify their crop portfolios. ...
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... Horticulture has been one of the fastest-growing sectors within the larger agriculture activities in India, and the state of Karnataka is at the forefront in this context (Singh et al. 2014a, b). In fact, high-value horticultural crops, including fruits, vegetables, flowers, aromatic plants and herbs, are key components of agricultural development and economic progress in many developing countries (Hewett 2012). However, such high-value horticulture focuses on nontraditional species, often relying on exotics. ...
Chapter
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... Smallholder farmers typically face numerous challenges such as the following: production yields that tend to be low; post-harvest risks that are high; many barriers to market access with consistency of quality, inadequate volumes, spoilage, lack and cost of transport and storage (Baliyan & Kgathi 2009;Hewett (2012);Humphrey 2006;Munyeche, Story, Baines & Davies 2011;Murray-Prior 2011;Shepard 2007;Torero 2011). Furthermore, with current trade liberalisation and globalisation trends prominent in agricultural food chains, the agri-food sector has become more concentrated, with increased vertical integration between sectors. ...
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... Postharvest storage is a major pre-requisite in preparing products for market. Cost of horticultural products are determined by the mode of journey undertaken to reach the consumer (Hewett, 2012). Previously, the cost incurred for airfreight was a major impediment for the growth of a fresh Pitahaya fruit market in Europe. ...
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Horticulture is an ancient pursuit. Beginning some 10,000 years ago, our brilliant forebears discovered the horticultural craft secrets that are the basis of our profession. They initiated a revolution that changed forever the destiny of humans from scavenging, collecting, and hunting to agriculture. We all are the heirs and beneficiaries of this legacy from the past. Our roots derive from prehistoric gatherers, Sumerian, Egyptian, Chinese, and Korean farmers, Hellenic root diggers, medieval peasants, and gardeners everywhere who devised practical solutions to problems of plant growing for food, ornament, medicine, fiber, and shelter. The accumulated successes and improvements passed orally from parent to child, from artisan to apprentice, and became embedded in human consciousness via legend, craft secrets, and folk wisdom. It was stored in tales, almanacs, herbals, and histories and has become part of our common culture. More than practices and skills were involved as improved germplasm was selected and preserved via seed and graft from harvest to harvest and generation to generation. Practically all of our cultivated crops were selected and improved by prehistoric farmers. An array of technological approaches from primitive tools fashioned during the Bronze and Iron Ages through the development of the horticultural arts - irrigation, propagation, cultivation, pruning and training, drying, and fermentation - were devised to accommodate the needs and desires of humankind. The sum total of these technologies makes up the traditional lore of horticulture. It represents a monumental achievement of our forebears, un- known and unsung. Horticultural technology has been continuous over the millennia but in the last 100 years dramatic changes have occurred that have transformed horticulture from a craft to a science, and these changes will be displayed in the present Congress. However, all these advances are based solidly on the foundation of ancient techniques.
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