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.

Moringa

Strengthening the horticulture sector in Niger

Led by Erin McGuire , University of California, Davis
The project builds on the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s efforts in Niger by strengthening key horticulture value chains and increasing the capacity of actors in the horticulture sector through this Mission buy-in from the USAID Mission in Niger.
Niger
Small-scale producers in tomato greenhouse.

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

Led by Willis Owino, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
A project focused on the impacts of long and short horticultural value chains on nutrition, economic and social outcomes, and the utilization of information communication technologies (ICTs) within these value chains, to determine the interventions and innovations required to achieve specific outcomes and avoid harmful unintended scaling outcomes.
Kenya
Empowering Young Horticulture Researchers in Honduras

Empowering Young Horticulture Researchers in Honduras

Led by Julio López Montes, Panamerican Agricultural School, Zamorano
A fellowship-oriented program that provides seed funding to higher-education students in Honduras to conduct small-scale research projects across the horticulture value chain. Students will be guided through a grant drafting and submission training program to increase capacity in applying for funding, and supporting expertise to implement research projects.
Honduras
Weighing passion fruit for sale in Rwanda

Engaging and understanding informal mid-stream actors in Nigeria

Led by Youri Dijkxhoorn
To improve food system outcomes, such as accessible and affordable healthy diets, this project explores the role of mid-stream actors in alleviating value chain challenges that impact the affordability and availability of healthy and safe foods for urban consumers.
Nigeria, Rwanda
Promoting of food and nutrition security through indigenous fruits and vegetables in Ghana and Mali

Promoting food and nutrition security in the West African sub-region through indigenous, neglected and underutilized fruits and vegetables

Led by Dr. Freda E. Asem, University of Ghana
Providing a deeper understanding of the significant role African indigenous fruit and vegetable (AIFVs) have in global food and nutrition security, this project investigates how actors along the value chain can increase income through enhanced production and consumption of and AIFVs in Ghana and Mali.
Ghana, Mali
Women's farming group

Strengthening the horticulture sector in Guinea Bissau

Led by Dr. Naalamle Amissah , University of Ghana
The horticulture sector in Guinea Bissau offers significant promise that remains untapped. This project will strengthen input supply, production strategies, and build institutional capacity in higher education, national research, and within farmer groups, primarily groups led by women.
Guinea Bissau
Woman walking through net house amid neat rows of vegetable plants.

Assessing feasibility of pest-exclusion nets in Kenya

Led by William "Vance" Baird, Michigan State University

Research results show that using AgroNets (also known as Eco-Friendly Nets) in vegetable production leads to increased yields of marketable produce, while simultaneously reducing or eliminating the

Kenya
University classroom with students and speaker

Building postharvest capacity in Tanzania

Led by Eleni Pliakoni, Kansas State University

Postharvest losses of fresh horticultural crops are a major challenge in Tanzania, with studies from Sokoine University of Agriculture estimating losses of fresh produce at 44-60 percent.

Tanzania
Agricultural researchers pull back nets from row of vegetable plants in Kenya.

Demonstrating nets and floating row covers in Kenya and Benin

Led by William "Vance" Baird, Michigan State University

Rapid urbanization in Sub-Saharan Africa has resulted in an increase in demand for food, and fruit and vegetable consumption in the region remains 22-82% below the intake value threshold of 400 g/d

Kenya, Benin

Developing a concentrated solar dryer in Tanzania

Led by Diane Barrett, University of California, Davis

Women carry out most production of horticultural crops in Tanzania and other developing countries. Harvest periods are short but less than 1% of the crop is processed for off-season consumption.

Tanzania