Articles
MARKETING THE PRODUCTS OF UNDERUTILIZED CROPS – CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRO-POOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Article number
770_9
Pages
87 – 94
Language
English
Abstract
The usefulness of underutilized crops is widely recognised in their contribution to poverty alleviation.
Underutilized crops – those that are not staple or mainstream industrial species – feature high in the diet and daily consumption for nutritional, medicinal, energy or other purposes of the rural and urban poor.
Promoting underutilized crops contributes to the stability and risk management of farming systems, the conservation of agro biodiversity, but also to strengthening the cultural identity and local empowerment of farmers in the use of what is too often labelled as backward and unmodern. Underutilized crops also form a reservoir of species and varieties readily available to be selected by the market for medium or large up scaling of the production.
The potential of many of these species to enter domestic, regional or even international markets is high.
Development of stronger links with the private sector and civil society in particular in the commercialisation of underutilized crops for and by smallholder producers, thereby integrating three dimensions of sustainability People, Planet and Profit (social, ecological and economic sustainability), can provide useful lessons.
Projects demonstrate that with entrepreneurship, strong and fair partnerships between producers, dealers, consumers and other stakeholders in the production to consumption chain, and through a participatory integrated learning approach by all partners, commercialization of underutilized crops can work for poor people.
However, these examples are few and it is expected that more efficient underutilized crop promotion will result in increased impact potential of these species.
Underutilized crops – those that are not staple or mainstream industrial species – feature high in the diet and daily consumption for nutritional, medicinal, energy or other purposes of the rural and urban poor.
Promoting underutilized crops contributes to the stability and risk management of farming systems, the conservation of agro biodiversity, but also to strengthening the cultural identity and local empowerment of farmers in the use of what is too often labelled as backward and unmodern. Underutilized crops also form a reservoir of species and varieties readily available to be selected by the market for medium or large up scaling of the production.
The potential of many of these species to enter domestic, regional or even international markets is high.
Development of stronger links with the private sector and civil society in particular in the commercialisation of underutilized crops for and by smallholder producers, thereby integrating three dimensions of sustainability People, Planet and Profit (social, ecological and economic sustainability), can provide useful lessons.
Projects demonstrate that with entrepreneurship, strong and fair partnerships between producers, dealers, consumers and other stakeholders in the production to consumption chain, and through a participatory integrated learning approach by all partners, commercialization of underutilized crops can work for poor people.
However, these examples are few and it is expected that more efficient underutilized crop promotion will result in increased impact potential of these species.
Authors
H. Jaenicke, A. Lengkeek
Keywords
micro-enterprises, market development, pro poor chain management, entrepreneurship
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