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Horticulture

Can ACP smallholders reap the fruit and share in rewards through enhanced horticultural productivity? Will increased investments in horticultural research and development contribute to poverty alleviation? What is the role for advanced technologies? These and other questions are explored in this folder on horticulture for food and wealth.

In her article Horticulture for food – responding to the challenges, Lusike A. Wasilwa, Ph.D. Assistant Director Horticulture and Industrial Crops from the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) shows that there is world to win with regard to enhancing horticultural productivity. Investments in research and development, knowledge and technologies, are needed to build human and infrastructural capacity. Technological advances offer opportunities for up-scaling the production of high value horticultural crops. But the decision-makers must be well informed about the opportunities and the risks. Olaf van Kooten, Professor Horticultural Production Chains, Wageningen University and Research Centre, focuses on value addition in horticultural supply chains. In his lead article, he shows how small producers can be integrated into high value horticultural chains to reap the rewards of such investments.

The supporting links and documents provide information about horticultural research executed by organizations and institutions all over the world. Among the background information one can find articles that deal with genetic resources including neglected and underutilized species as well as articles providing information about technological advances such as the opportunities and challenges of biotechnology in the field of horticulture.

This folder was prepared by KIT in collaboration with CTA. Edited by J.A. Francis (CTA) and Jacqueline Sluijs (KIT).


Horticulture for food

by Lusike A. Wasilwa, Ph.D. Assistant Director Horticulture and Industrial Crops, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute
Agricultural productivity in most sub-Saharan countries is 2-3 times lower than the world average and the production gap between developing and developed countries is widening. This situation is reflected in the production of most horticultural commodities in which per capita productivity has declined. Today’s farmers produce less per hectare than their grandparents. When an increase in production is reported, a notable increase in land under production is the cause and not increased productivity per unit area. Major factors contributing to this decline are poor soils, decreasing land resources, minimal access to irrigation (only 4% of the land used for agricultural production is under irrigation) and drought which affects 33% of crops produced for food slightly and another 25% severely. What mix of knowledge and technologies is required to expand production and increase productivity in Africa that can contribute to improving food, nutrition and income security? How can economies of scale be created? 05/11/2008
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Global Horticulture Initiative

The Global Horticulture Initiative believes in a world where horticulture is prized by the poor for its valued contribution to present and future generations. The final beneficiaries are resource-poor households in developing countries working within the agricultural sector and food processing industries in rural, peri-urban and urban areas. The organization’s mission is to act as a global facility for coordinated horticultural research that provides solutions towards increasing health, productivity and safety in sustainable environments, to uplift the quality of life of the poorest populations in the world. 05/11/2008
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Horticulture for Wealth

by Olaf van Kooten, Horticultural Supply Chains group, Wageningen University, The Netherlands
Horticulture worldwide has been dominated by a product oriented approach, i.e. producers do their best to create attractive and maybe delicious products and then try to sell them. In a local context, this approach has worked well for the last 20 millennia; however, in the present day situation, where most retail corporations source their products globally it will not suffice. Due to the evolution of the world wide food web, supply now exceeds the demand in most cases. In order to compete in this market, producers and suppliers must be able to differentiate products from average suppliers. The distinctions developed must be perceived as valuable by the customers. Therefore it all starts with knowing what customers expect and appreciate both now and in the future. 05/11/2008
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