SMALL-SCALE FARMERS AND ENTREPRENEURS

The advent of the World Trade Organization has opened the door to international commerce in fruits and vegetables by reducing or eliminating tariffs and quotas. This development offers greater sales opportunities for farmers and exporters in regional and global markets. However, marketing products in international or even large markets, requires meeting both public and private standards for quality and safety.

To support small-scale farmers, processors and exporters in achieving these opportunities, the PFID-F&V team members:

• Bring market information to the grower;
• Increase sales through enhanced market participation;
• Identify and build new linkages between small growers groups, brokers and retailers;
• Assist in streamlining fruit and vegetable supply chains to reduce costs and meeting customers expectations;
• Provide technical support to resolve marketing barriers posed by diseases, insects, inadequate packaging, and technical factors; and
• Identify profitable new crops or crop varieties that will enhance operations revenue to the supply chain.