The Vegetable Export System

Abstract

Vegetables are important crops in developing countries, recognized for their nutritional benefits and income generation for smallholder farmers. This paper compares the successful vegetable export system with the much larger but inefficient and low-yielding local vegetable subsector in Kenya and identifies opportunities to address the major technical and marketing constraints faced by the local subsector. The export system could be a useful role model for the development of improved, adapted vegetable varieties, sustainable seed-delivery systems, organized technical assistance and more efficient marketing systems in the local subsector. A productive and efficient local vegetable system is likely to enhance the livelihoods of the poor and economic growth in Kenya.