Inclusive Agricultural Growth Projects

Inclusive Agricultural Growth

Growth in the agriculture sector has been shown in some areas to be more effective than growth in other sectors at lifting men and women out of poverty — increasing food availability, generating income from production, creating employment and entrepreneurship opportunities throughout value chains, and spurring growth in rural and urban economies. Fruit and vegetable production and markets have a big impact, as these crops generate high economic returns per unit of land. Farmers who grow high-value horticulture crops consistently earn more than those who grow other commodities, allowing smallholder farmers to derive additional income and driving agricultural and economic diversification. Innovation in horticulture crops, including postharvest entrepreneurial opportunities, offer increased production, value-added income, and long-term investment opportunities.

Sorting and grading of harvested tomatoes in Kajiado County.

Determining the trade-offs between short and long horticulture value chains in Kenya

By increasing understandings of the trade-offs of short horticulture value chains versus long horticulture value chains, and the impact of ICT on those value chains, researchers will have critical information to guide where future interventions and innovations should be focused to achieve specific types of outcomes and avoid unintended harmful impacts from scaling/interventions. Furthermore, by collecting this data, researchers outside of Kenya can use the findings and approach as a framework for replication
Kenya
Developing innovative horticulture technologies for small-scale women farmers in Uganda

Developing innovative horticulture technologies for small-scale women farmers in Uganda

The theory of change in this project identified the problem of losses in horticultural crops during the pre-harvest, post-harvest and marketing stages in Uganda. The overall goal of this project is to increase financial independence and improve the livelihoods of small-scale women vegetable farmers. To achieve this goal, we will evaluate different agronomic practices for reduced loss; evaluate different postharvest practices for reduced loss in vegetables; and evaluate different marketing and market access strategies for vegetables by women farmers. This is expected to lead to improved household nutrition status; increased sales of vegetables; and increased household income status of small-scale women farmers.
Uganda
Advancing Technology based on Urban and Peri-urban Horticulture Needs in Bangladesh and Nepal

Advancing Technology based on Urban and Peri-urban Horticulture Needs in Bangladesh and Nepal

The rapid urbanization in Bangladesh and Nepal is making the city dwellers vulnerable for their food and nutrition and primarily dependent on the supply chain from the rural areas. Also, it has been a challenge to enhance the production of fruits and vegetables in urban and peri-urban areas due to the limited supply of quality planting materials. By addressing these issues can contribute to increasing urban communities’ access to demand-based nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables, which can contribute to achieving food and nutritional security.
Nepal, Bangladesh
Young woman interviewing old woman in sparse room in light from doorway

Empowering women through horticulture in Honduras

Led by Janelle Larson, The Pennsylvania State University

In the Western Highlands of Honduras, families struggle to survive on subsistence agriculture. Poverty and malnutrition rates are high, and take a particularly heavy toll on women and children.

Honduras
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Improved Nutrition Projects

Improved Nutrition

Undernutrition, particularly during the 1,000 days from pregnancy to a child’s second birthday, leads to lower levels of educational attainment, productivity, lifetime earnings, and economic growth rates. Horticulture plays a unique role in ensuring access to and availability of diverse, nutritious food. Increased dietary diversity is highly correlated with better health, and thus reduction of malnutrition and stunting. Increasing fruit and vegetable consumption is one of the few dietary strategies that can help improve both undernutrition and overnutrition, which can co-exist even in the same household (the so-called "double burden of malnutrition" in transitioning economies).

Enhancing the production and consumption of AIVs to improve diets in Ghana and Mali

Enhancing the production and consumption of AIVs to improve diets in Ghana and Mali

This project aims to improve nutrition in Ghanaians and Malians through diet diversification by valorizing indigenous fruits and vegetables and promoting their consumption. This will be achieved through an assessment of value chain to profile and identify cultural properties of indigenous fruits and vegetables to understand regional demand and supply, characterize them in terms of agronomic practices, nutritional composition, postharvest practices and value addition potential.
Ghana, Mali
Sorting and grading of harvested tomatoes in Kajiado County.

Determining the trade-offs between short and long horticulture value chains in Kenya

By increasing understandings of the trade-offs of short horticulture value chains versus long horticulture value chains, and the impact of ICT on those value chains, researchers will have critical information to guide where future interventions and innovations should be focused to achieve specific types of outcomes and avoid unintended harmful impacts from scaling/interventions. Furthermore, by collecting this data, researchers outside of Kenya can use the findings and approach as a framework for replication
Kenya
Developing innovative horticulture technologies for small-scale women farmers in Uganda

Developing innovative horticulture technologies for small-scale women farmers in Uganda

The theory of change in this project identified the problem of losses in horticultural crops during the pre-harvest, post-harvest and marketing stages in Uganda. The overall goal of this project is to increase financial independence and improve the livelihoods of small-scale women vegetable farmers. To achieve this goal, we will evaluate different agronomic practices for reduced loss; evaluate different postharvest practices for reduced loss in vegetables; and evaluate different marketing and market access strategies for vegetables by women farmers. This is expected to lead to improved household nutrition status; increased sales of vegetables; and increased household income status of small-scale women farmers.
Uganda
Advancing Technology based on Urban and Peri-urban Horticulture Needs in Bangladesh and Nepal

Advancing Technology based on Urban and Peri-urban Horticulture Needs in Bangladesh and Nepal

The rapid urbanization in Bangladesh and Nepal is making the city dwellers vulnerable for their food and nutrition and primarily dependent on the supply chain from the rural areas. Also, it has been a challenge to enhance the production of fruits and vegetables in urban and peri-urban areas due to the limited supply of quality planting materials. By addressing these issues can contribute to increasing urban communities’ access to demand-based nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables, which can contribute to achieving food and nutritional security.
Nepal, Bangladesh
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Resilience Projects

Resilience

Increasingly frequent, intense shocks and stresses threaten the ability of men, women, and families to emerge from poverty in a sustainable way.

Sorting and grading of harvested tomatoes in Kajiado County.

Determining the trade-offs between short and long horticulture value chains in Kenya

By increasing understandings of the trade-offs of short horticulture value chains versus long horticulture value chains, and the impact of ICT on those value chains, researchers will have critical information to guide where future interventions and innovations should be focused to achieve specific types of outcomes and avoid unintended harmful impacts from scaling/interventions. Furthermore, by collecting this data, researchers outside of Kenya can use the findings and approach as a framework for replication
Kenya
Developing innovative horticulture technologies for small-scale women farmers in Uganda

Developing innovative horticulture technologies for small-scale women farmers in Uganda

The theory of change in this project identified the problem of losses in horticultural crops during the pre-harvest, post-harvest and marketing stages in Uganda. The overall goal of this project is to increase financial independence and improve the livelihoods of small-scale women vegetable farmers. To achieve this goal, we will evaluate different agronomic practices for reduced loss; evaluate different postharvest practices for reduced loss in vegetables; and evaluate different marketing and market access strategies for vegetables by women farmers. This is expected to lead to improved household nutrition status; increased sales of vegetables; and increased household income status of small-scale women farmers.
Uganda
Advancing Technology based on Urban and Peri-urban Horticulture Needs in Bangladesh and Nepal

Advancing Technology based on Urban and Peri-urban Horticulture Needs in Bangladesh and Nepal

The rapid urbanization in Bangladesh and Nepal is making the city dwellers vulnerable for their food and nutrition and primarily dependent on the supply chain from the rural areas. Also, it has been a challenge to enhance the production of fruits and vegetables in urban and peri-urban areas due to the limited supply of quality planting materials. By addressing these issues can contribute to increasing urban communities’ access to demand-based nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables, which can contribute to achieving food and nutritional security.
Nepal, Bangladesh
Weighing passion fruit for sale in Rwanda

Engaging and understanding informal mid-stream actors in Nigeria and Rwanda

Led by Youri Dijkxhoorn
To enhance food system outcomes, such as accessible and affordable healthy diets, improvements in the mid-stream are needed. This raises the question: how can informal mid-stream actors be involved in addressing value chain challenges that impact the affordability and availability of healthy and safe foods for urban consumers? This project sets out to answer those questions.
Nigeria, Rwanda
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