Socio-economic Research in Vegetable Production and Marketing in Africa Workshop
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Leafminers feed between the upper and lower surfaces of plant leaves. Such damage, as shown on the tomato plant (right), is negligible as long as it is confined to the leaves. However, in the case of snow peas, these pests attack the product as well. Since they have quarantine status in many European Union countries, leafminers are one of the causes for the reject of many consignments of snowpeas from Africa. icipe’s goal is to assist small-scale farmers in producing immaculate snowpeas, such as the ones pictured (extreme right) graded, and ready for export to EU supermarkets (photo: icipe Horticulture Team).

Utalii Hotel, Nairobi

March 5-6, 2009

Introduction

Attention to the horticulture sector and its contribution to balanced nutrition, economic development and alleviation of poverty has steadily increased over the past years. Export horticulture faces challenges such as increasing standards of production. Domestic horticulture is of growing potential but to large extent along informal supply chains with its associated challenges. Production for both sub-sectors faces the challenge of appropriate – environmentally and human health friendly – pest control of long-established pests but also newly introduced ones.

Although attention from research institutions and policy makers to the positive development potential of vegetables is increasing, so far no attempt has been made to collate and synthesize findings of individual research projects, especially in Africa. This gap is especially apparent in the lack of socioeconomic knowledge of the vegetable production and marketing systems, which are often highly commercialized with highly dynamic but informal markets. The aim of the workshop ‘socio-economic research in vegetable production and marketing in Africa’ was to take stock of economic research on vegetables production and marketing in Africa, to synthesize findings and conclude on further needs for research and development. The workshop provides a platform for dialogue between experts from the research and development community including research institutions, development partners, the private sector and policy makers.

Program and Participants List

Click the links below to download the PDFs (Requires Acrobat Reader)

Presentations

Contact Information

For further information please contact:

Ms Lucy Kiilu ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or
Dr Dagmar Mithöfer ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )