High-Value Crops

Agriculture

Nearly two-thirds of the world's poor rely on agriculture for their incomes, making the sector key to economic development. Agriculture is two to four times more effective at raising incomes in developing countries than other sectors. 

Certain crops with high market value  –  like coffee, cocoa, and others – can bring especially large increases to farmers’ incomes. When farmers can improve the quality and yields of these high-value crops, the impact can be transformative.

Surpluses produced in excess of household consumption can be sold commercially, increasing community food security, promoting value-added activities like processing, and supporting a variety of businesses along the supply chain.

This extra value not only supports farmers and their households, but also creates jobs, wealth, and economic growth along the supply chain until the products reach the end consumers, whether they live next door to the farmer or on the other side of the world.

Our Agricultural Work With Smallholder Farmers

TechnoServe helps smallholder farmers growing high-value (or cash) crops to achieve critical outcomes like the following:

• Earn greater incomes by improving the quality and quantity of their crops
• Access finance and supplies
• Sell to better buyers, such as food and beverage companies
• Secure partnerships with buyers that pay higher prices

By increasing access these resources and market connections, TechnoServe helps provide  farmers with a reliable, long-term market.

In order to achieve these goals, TechnoServe works to strengthen market systems. We focus on markets that have:

TechnoServe facilitates market connections that provide an unmet demand for a product or service

•  Potential for inclusive growth:

The most valuable market opportunities we can create are those that benefit people like producers, entrepreneurs, employees or consumers who are living in poverty.

• The potential for scale:

Similarly, TechnoServe focuses our efforts on creating market connections that hold promise for impacting significant numbers of families.

TechnoServe’s Approach Puts Smallholder Farmers First

TechnoServe’s approach has enabled our work to improve the lives and livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers and their families.

Featured Agriculture Projects For Smallholder Farmers

TechnoServe Coalition for Smallholder Sourcing

The TechnoServe Coalition for Smallholder Sourcing was dedicated to generating evidence on innovations in smallholder sourcing that improve outcomes for farmers and companies, as well as promoting broad-based adoption of effective innovations.

Ganadería Empresarial

Ganadería Empresarial (GANE) aimed to improve the livelihoods of smallholder livestock producers in Nicaragua. With support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, TechnoServe helped 5,500 farmers increase productivity, strengthen producer organizations and connect to higher-value markets.

Reducing Losses in the Mango Value Chain

Reducing losses increases incomes for farmers and the sustainability of the mango value chain in the Kenyan market. Post-harvest losses in the value chain reduce incomes for mango farmers in Kenya. TechnoServe is working to test various technologies to improve the storage of the fruit and as of the end of 2015, a total of over 4,000 farmers had been trained in loss reduction methods. Additionally, TechnoServe is providing training to farmers and farmer business organizations on post-harvest loss prevention techniques. The program also hopes to increase market demand for the fruit by linking farmers to new potential buyers and appropriate value chain actors to financing.

Projects

Together with our partners, TechnoServe is helping to grow strong markets that create opportunities for enterprising people in the developing world.