Agriculture

Dried mangos are juicing up Burkina Faso’s fruit exports
Aware of the premium on value-added exports, the government of Burkina Faso between 2014 and 2018 partnered with the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) to improve the drying and certification process of dried mangos for export. The project has been key to slowly but firmly pushing the country towards modernizing its agro-processing businesses – and juicing up its exports.

Tea Processing at Innovative Jasbire Tea Factory
The tea makers eagerly await a specific aroma or, as they say, “for the teas to speak.” The machines are switched off as soon as the leaves emit that particular aroma. The rolled hunks of darker, chunkier leaves are then hauled to the drying machine. There, another dexterous worker awaits the leaves.

Soy, the magic bean of Togo's economy
In 2015, Togo produced less than 25,000 tons of soybeans. Since then, production increased five-fold to more than 200,000 tons in 2021. How did this happen?

The war in Ukraine could bring economies of poorest countries on brink of catastrophe
The impact of the war in Ukraine on food and fuel prices will weaken economies already battered by the COVID-19 pandemic and climate-related disasters.

In CAR farmers plant maize and harvest peace
Supporting farmers and agricultural cooperatives in a post-conflict context is not what funders of international aid often consider a safe bet. But turning swords into ploughs can pave a sustainable path out of conflict for communities, as results from a project supported by the Enhanced Integrated Framework in four districts of the country show.

Shea is trading in French-speaking Africa
The multimillion-dollar shea industry is booming in French-speaking Africa. With the right support, there is a lot of room for the sector to grow and for rural women to benefit.

High-value agriculture is trading in French-speaking Africa
French-speaking Africa is home to high-value agricultural products. EIF is working with producers and processors to make sure they can meet national and global market demands.

What's trading in French-speaking Africa?
French-speaking Africa has a lot of potential for trade. Find out what sectors have the most promise.

How West Africa’s cashew companies have weathered the COVID-19 crisis
Originally published by the OECD on 4th March.

In West Africa, can organic shea become a solution?
Getting organic certification for shea can be a journey

Rising heat and snow-bare peaks chill Nepal's mountain economy
Originally published by Thomson Reuters Foundation, Tuesday, 9 February 2021 03:30 GMT

Story: Gambian entrepreneur empowers women through organic cotton production
Originally published by International Trade Centre on 3rd February 2021

With trade aims, Guinea looking to address agricultural potential
Guinea trying out south-south cooperation venture with Tunisia Trade in Guinea today centres mostly around the export of gold and bauxite, which is used to create aluminum. The country has the world’s largest deposits of the red rock, and aluminum prices are increasing.

Changing mindsets, boosting farmer spirits in the Solomon Islands
A fresh style of training for agriculturalists addresses topics from creativity to financial literacy

Luring honey profits in Ethiopia
Trainings in beekeeping and the provision of hives aims to create additional income sources for agriculturalistsBeekeeping doesn’t come naturally, really.

How cotton and its by-products can help create resilience for African smallholders
For smallholder farmers and processors in LDCs, cotton by-products could provide additional income as they adjust to COVID-19 and other exogenous factors impacting world lint prices

Mitigating the impacts of COVID-19 on domestic rice value chains and food security in West Africa
Rice plays a strategic role in food security in West Africa, but the region increasingly relies on imports, and local value chains face constraints in terms of technology, finance and coordination.

Can digital platforms help mitigate agricultural losses from COVID in Uganda?
The government of Uganda put containment measures in place to tackle COVID-19. These included quarantines; bans on public gatherings and weekly markets; closures of schools, borders and nonessential retail outlets; and the suspension of international flights.

Future-proofing safe trade now urgent for developing countries
COVID-19 is highlighting the interconnectedness of agri-food trade; and work needs to be done to mobilise action to build safe food systems

Launching a small business, leveraging trade fairs
Biruktawit Begashaw started her own export company, Qine Trading, five years ago in Addis Ababa. Her business got a boost after attending Gulfood in Dubai, sponsored through Ethiopia’s Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Enhanced Integrated Framework.

Focusing on export development, Ethiopia’s small businesses seeing success
For a new business owner, one international trade fair got things rolling

Looking at LDCs, food and COVID-19
Food products comprise around 17% of LDC merchandise imports – more than double the world average of 8%.

COVID-19 and the seed sector: How countries are navigating challenges
OECD’s Seed Schemes are working to protect food systems globally, with important benefits for least developed countries

David Laborde: How to help LDCs stay food secure through COVID-19
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFRPRI) Senior Research Fellow discusses the challenges and opportunities for food security in least developed countries amidst the COVID-19 pandemic

Small business owner in Ethiopia sees a future in ag products
Tewodros Yilma of Alpha Trading in Ethiopia discusses his business processing and exporting agricultural products, the role of trade fairs and his plans for the future.

For this Ethiopian exporter, the future is in food
Finding new buyers and tapping new markets, harnessing agriculture’s potential

Technology critical to unlocking the agricultural potential of cotton
Information access via tech could increase yields and incomes for cotton farmers in Africa

Achieving SDG 2: Policy options and their trade-offs
SDG 2 commits governments to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture, with five specific targets setting the level and ambition of this goal.

Malawi rice co-op taking their packaging to the next level
To get international buyers, Malawi businesses tackling marketing and certifications

A window of opportunity for Africa: Agricultural innovation, integration and entrepreneurial ecosystems
Agriculture 4.0, fuelled by innovation and technology, is driving more productive, efficient and sustainable food systems.

David Laborde: Addressing the nexus of food security, trade tensions and developing economies, where are we now?
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) Senior Research Fellow discusses agriculture-based economies and how the current US-China trade situation is affecting the world’s poor

Is African agriculture waking up?
New report delves into the trade data on agriculture on the continent, finding positive trends, points of concern and suggestions for the future

Unlocking the hidden value of cotton by-products in African least developed countries
Investment mobilization and technology transfers could increase incomes, and enable value addition

Private sector development and international trade in The Gambia
The tiny West African country The Gambia is striving to export its crops globally.

In Nepal, trade in ginger is spicing up lives
Cooperative endeavor to enhance exports yields solid solutions

In Uganda, enterprises bringing sensibility – and scents – to their development
Government plus grassroots combo laying foundations for MSME success

Nepal sees ginger ‘revival’
Making more and better ginger crops means more income

What challenges lay ahead for a small business owner in Uganda?
Noah's Ark owner Samuel Musoke discusses his small business and what he needs to succeed from Masaka District in Uganda.

Gaining ground for Malawi’s markets
New buyers means employment opportunities and much much more

In Malawi, bolstering youth and women’s employment through sectoral skills strategies
Skills strategies can provide a bridging mechanism to enable disadvantaged groups such as youth and women to gain from international trade.

Detoxifying crops in The Gambia, from the ground up
Conquering a nut pollutant means lives and livelihoods saved in the process

Small market, big ambition
Bhutan’s potato ‘stock market’ goes online

Togo seeing soy in its future
Country is diversifying into soy, and farmers are seeing profits

New project aims at increased exports for Lao PDR’s businesses
LUANG PRABANG – 11 MARCH 2019 – Lao PDR’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC) and the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) have officially launched a new effort to increase the country’s exports and support investments in business development.

Supporting sustained collaboration key to coherent agriculture and trade outcomes in Africa, report says
Implementation is everything in aligning trade and agriculture in LDCs in Africa

Aligning agriculture and trade
In countries where farming sustains families and economies, sustainable trade in agricultural products means everything

Christina Chatima: On using trade as an engine for growth
Increasing agricultural proceeds, processing and marketing are critical in Malawi’s development plans

Minding the gaps between field and marketplace
Strategic alliances and alignments are key to making trade in agriculture work, for all

Exploring the agriculture and trade nexus in Africa
A multimedia collection from the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF)

Agriculture & Trade Magazine
In some of the most impoverished countries in the world, agriculture is the backbone of the economy

Buba Jawneh: Managing a family cashew enterprise, readying for global commerce
In The Gambia, family-owned cashew processors are primed for expansion

Comoros in bloom
Island nation focusing on its unique, specialty plant life to kick start economic growth

In Malawi, enriching what happens between farm and table
Malawians are forging new markets for their agricultural exports, within and without Africa

Malawi reaping what it's sowing
Targeting soy and groundnuts for export, the country and its farmers are seeing rewards

Clement Kumbemba: On obtaining markets for Malawi’s harvests
The country is striving to enhance agro-processing, secure new markets and increase exports

Improving agriculture, enriching trade, transforming lives
When agriculture and trade align, change happens for incomes and economies

The Gambia sounding out its agricultural potential
With cashew prices surging and armed with solid trade policy, the country is looking to boost its farmers and processors

Comoros making scents
Three tiny, volcanic Indian Ocean islands are producing 60% of the world's supply of ylang-ylang

Ibrahima Sittina Farate: As one woman innovates, a nation’s exports set to bloom
In Comoros, an essential oils doyenne has plans for her country’s unique yields

Trading for Malawi's farmers, and the future
Malawi's farmers have been cultivating new crops with the National Smallholder Farmers' Association of Malawi, supported by the Government of Malawi and EIF

Gambia getting more from cashews
The Gambia has been working across its supply chain to enhance trade in the country

#trade4dev and EIF
EIF is the only multilateral partnership working to support trade for development in the world's poorest countries. Check out how we are doing this, on the ground, with our partners, together with governments, always for development, always for the Least Developed Countries.

Entrepreneurs in action in Comoros
The ylang-ylang, vanilla and cloves that grow in Comoros are being used to spur economic growth, with young entrepreneurs leading the way

Strengthening inclusive agribusiness for export growth
Inclusive and sustainable agribusiness value chains can provide one of the highest returns on investment in terms of growth, poverty reduction, pro-poor employment, and women's economic empowerment in LDCs.

Introduction to #EIFGlobalForum2018

Cashing in on cashews in The Gambia
A journey from farmers’ fields to export markets

Betty Chinyamunyamu: Finding potential in Malawi’s farmers – and forging new markets
In a country with a majority of the population cultivating small plots of land, empowering smallholder farmers is the key to economic success

Driving safe trade solutions worldwide
A new book on sanitary and phytosanitary gaps from the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) highlights ways to support farmers, processors, traders and governments in developing countries to access global markets

Bridging the gap for farmers in Malawi
Additional land to sow, targeted trainings, and market security mean higher incomes for smallholders

Lesotho opens horticultural market centre to boost business for farmers
(MASERU/GENEVA) March 9, 2018 – The Kingdom of Lesotho is continuing to invest in agro-processing for its farmers: A brand new horticultural market centre will allow them to better preserve their fruits and vegetables and receive prompt payments for their products.

New market creating fresh connections in Lesotho
Just-launched facility offers state-of-the-art services, and promises to boost business

Samoa's coconuts go global
“Coconuts are both culturally and economically important to Samoans,” says Alberta Vitale, Associate Director of Samoa’s Women in Business Development Incorporated (WIBDI).

Righting a raw deal for Burkina Faso’s cashew processors
Burkina Faso’s cashew industry is in the midst of a drastic makeover.

Righting a raw deal for Burkina Faso’s cashew processors
Burkina Faso's cashew sector has been re-made, as a matter of national priority.

Benin cassava flour makers seek Geographical Indication
Two dozen Beninese women making a unique type of garri flour sign up to a new code of practice to better market their product and boost incomes

Comorian vanilla and clove exporters secure financing with ITC help
Project strengthens value chains of vanilla, clove and ylang ylang in the Union of the Comoros Originally posted at ITC News

Cambodia's white gold
Driving through Cambodia’s country-side, one can’t help but notice the endless rice paddies that appear to extend in every direction. This should come as no surprise given that, for millennia, rice has been a central part of the country’s diet, and its most important crop. One that to this day occupies up to three quarters of the country’s cultivated land.

Women at the helm of Senegal’s burgeoning mango industry
Aminata Dominique Diouf was seven years old when her father bought a small farm 15 minutes from the Senegal-Gambia border.

Trade, building sustainable livelihoods, fostering greater competition and managing water conservation
Chandra and her 25 colleagues from her women's association take a break from the day's farming business to hold a meeting on their ginger business prospects and the stiff market competition they face with India's value-added ginger.

Comoros: Trade and striving to end hunger and improve nutrition
The story of a father in Comoros exporting vanilla to improve the livelihood of his family and community