Research to make a change for the resource-poor
The geographical focus of the Global Horticulture Initiative is on the developing world, with sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where most of the world’s extreme poor live, being primary focal points. Secondary regions of emphasis will be in Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.
The primary beneficiaries of the Global Horticulture Initiative are resource-poor households working within the agricultural sector and food processing industries in rural, peri-urban and urban areas. Special efforts will be made to empower women, the principal workers in most horticultural crop production and related industries.
The initiative will begin by focusing on alliaceous, cucurbitaceous, leguminous, and solanaceous vegetables, tropical and subtropical tree fruits, and indigenous horticultural crops. Activities for ornamentals, aromatic and medicinal plants will be added later.
As part of its character and structure, the Global Horticulture Initiative will coordinate activities in a framework of broader issues, such as
- Creating added-value along the horticulture commodity chain, from production to consumption
- Improving health and enhancing the nutritional value of diets in rural, peri-urban and urban areas
- Contributing to sustainable and ecologically sound practices in horticulture and strengthening organizations
- Providing opportunities for horticulture in urban areas, that are the last frontier of agriculture in some developing countries