SELECTING SUITABLE ENTERPRISES

Once a sure demand for any horticultural product has been identified, a choice can often be made between promoting production of the raw material by smallholders, or by larger farmers or plantation companies. The choice itself is normally made by the exporter (purchasing company) in consultation with potential producers or producer representatives. In the case of smallholders, the consultation can be facilitated by an independent intermediary.

Crops that utilize the strengths of smallholder production and so are potentially suitable are likely to have most or all of the following characteristics: · labour-intensive rather than capital-intensive production system · low susceptibility to pests, diseases and other production hazards · easy 'fit' with other parts of the smallholder production system · high value of product per unit of land