For further information contact: Rupert Best

Visit the CIAT Agroenterprise Project Web site

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The Challenge

The tropical world is rich in raw materials that have potential demand in local and international markets. Changing market trends and consumption habits are creating niches for exotic fruits, nuts, medicinal plants, and organic raw materials, such as essential oils, natural colors, spices, and tannins. New opportunities have also arisen for traditional commodities (involving new products from cassava, sugarcane, and livestock) and for local seed production.

But small-scale farmers and entrepreneurs face numerous barriers that prevent them from taking full advantage of these market opportunities. They generally have little business experience and lack information about technologies, markets, and prices. Moreover, rural areas offer few support services (such as credit, transportation, and communication) for commercial activities.

Objective

To help link small farmers in developing countries to local and international growth markets by establishing and strengthening rural enterprises and complementary support services.

Outputs

• Methods for identifying, prioritizing, and developing market opportunities, taking into account farmers' perceptions and the sustainability of production
• Information systems and participatory methods for the selection and development of appropriate postharvest handling and processing technologies
• Options for organizing rural agroenterprises and providing them with support services
• Sound principles on which to base integrated agroenterprise projects and local support systems
• Enhanced capacity within national institutions to promote agroenterprises

Benefits

This project is strengthening the capacity of government and nongovernment organizations to establish economically and environmentally sound small-scale agroindustrial enterprises. Farmers and entrepreneurs, especially women, profit from information on market opportunities, improved postharvest processing technologies, and better support services. Both these groups and urban populations benefit through improved consumer products and better protection of natural resources.

Strategy

In collaboration with national, regional, and other international partners, the project:

• Integrates rural agroenterprise development into programs for sustainable rural and agricultural development in representative areas of hillsides, forest margins, and savannas in Latin America.
• Participates in similar projects in Africa and Asia.
• Conducts cross-case analysis of experiences in agroenterprise development to identify best practices and key factors in success.
• Disseminates the knowledge coming from research by means of print and electronic products and through training of collaborators who are actively promoting small agribusiness.

Project Partners

International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Cali, Colombia

The Center has various projects that collaborate with local consortia focusing on sustainable resource management and rural development.

Program for Rural Agroindustrial Development (PRODAR)

This Program has coordinated the support of rural agroindustry by international and national agencies since 1989. It operates through national networks of government and nongovernment organizations (REDARs) in 14 Latin American countries.

Center for International Cooperation in Agricultural Research for Development (CIRAD), France

The Center provides expertise in processing, in the development of food products, and in support for small-scale enterprises.

National, regional, and other international institutions

The UK's Natural Resources Institute (NRI), International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in the USA, International Potato Center (CIP) in Peru, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Nigeria, Postharvest Technology Institute (PHTI) in Vietnam, Crop Post-Harvest Programme (CPHP) in Zimbabwe, and various local consortia in Colombia, Honduras, and Peru.

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