Can smallholder avocado production reduce poverty and improve food security through internal markets? The case of Giheta, Burundi
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Date
2018
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Abstract
The role of agriculture in rural development is widely documented
in literature. Many analysts regard agriculture, specifically smallscale agriculture, as an effective instrument for poverty reduction
and food security, particularly in rural communities of developing
countries where large numbers of poor people are concentrated.
However whether the focus of such production should be on
export crops or for domestic food security remains an issue for
debate. Using the avocado industry in Giheta-Burundi, this paper
argues that some emerging tree crops such as avocados present
enormous opportunities to income generation and food security
for small-scale farmers. This paper suggests that small-scale avocado farming presents the economic, market and health potentiality to contribute to a viable and sustainable rural economy
through internal markets thereby reducing levels of poverty and
malnutrition in this area. From a policy perspective, the paper
suggests that the avocado sector needs to be supported by both
the private and public sectors, irrespective of whether the crop is
consumed, traded domestically or exported. Increasing the capacity of avocado production and trade will then enable small-scale
farmers and vendors to gain greater income from this sector.
Description
Keywords
Smallholder avocado production, Food security, Income generation, Wellbeing, Rural markets, Institutional arrangements
Citation
Hakizimana, C., & May, J. (2018). Can smallholder avocado production reduce poverty and improve food security through internal markets? The case of Giheta, Burundi. Forests Trees and Livelihoods, 27(4), 203–216. https://doi.org/10.1080/14728028.2018.1515041