The Scope for Poverty Reduction Through High-value, Non-staple, Cash Crops (Session 2)

High value crop production has long been seen as presenting exciting opportunities for smallholder producers to increase their incomes and escape poverty.  Though the focus has often been on production for global markets, rapid urbanization and per capita income growth in Africa also present major opportunities for growth in local and regional markets. David Tschirley uses data from East and Southern Africa to explore to how horticultural production is helping smallholder farmers increase agricultural incomes; he identifies key knowledge gaps and investment needs to enhance its contribution to poverty reduction. Dan Clay then examines how specialty coffee, a rapidly growing export market, can be especially inclusive of smallholders and women through industry partnerships and investments in quality improvements, traceability, human resources, harmonized standards and market development.

Watch the screencast below; then read the discussant summary.

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