The horticulture industry is enormous in the East and Southern Africa region and includes cut flowers, vegetables and fruits. SNV is currently involved in providing capacity development support in the area of fruit and vegetable production. The selection of the horticulture value chain has been based on its capability to raise household incomes. Horticulture products also need less land area for cultivation than agricultural crops and are therefore an ideal source of income for smallholders. Products have a ready market even in local and regional markets. The fact that private sector actors also have a keen interest in large quantities of horticultural produce for export is beneficial to small scale farmers as well.

SNV's work in the horticulture sector includes:

• Producer group strengthening
• Facilitating multi-stakeholder platforms
• Market intelligence
• Value chain financing
• Strengthening value chain service providers
• Effective public policy management

Country programmes active in the horticulture sector are Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

Clients
Clients in this value chain include farmer organisations, agricultural research and extension services, district councils, private sector companies, farmers’ unions and horticultural promotion councils as well as civil society and public sector stakeholders.

Partners
The partners in this chain are numerous. Particular collaboration is carried out with World Vision, AgriProfocus (KIT, ICCO, IIRR) in a formal learning alliance and with WUR and IFAD to share, broker and develop knowledge on value chains.