Nontraditional Crop Production in Africa for Export

Crops that are not part of the customary diet of the local population and grown primarily for their high cash values and export potentials are categorized as nontraditional. Recently, several African countries have gone into the production of nontraditional fruits and vegetables of temperate origin in order to diversify their agricultural exports and increase hard currency earning. Most developed countries fall in the temperate climate zone where cropping season is limited to the summer months. On the other hand, crops can be grown throughout the year in Africa as the continent is endowed with a tropical climate. Increase in consumer demand in developed countries for out of the season fresh fruits and vegetables has opened a niche for African countries to produce these crops for export during the void period at attractive prices. Increased labor costs in developed countries have made in-season production also an attractive proposition. High altitude regions of some African countries like Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda possess suitable climate for growing cool season crops requiring mild temperatures. Rising costs of greenhouse heating and labor coupled with pricing pressure in an increasingly global economy have made tropical countries a favored alternative for producing greenhouse crops. Some tropical fruits and vegetables also show substantial export promise as consumers’ desire for variety and awareness of the health benefits of these crops increases.