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).