@article{Minot:60330,
      recid = {60330},
      author = {Minot, Nicholas and Ngigi, Margaret},
      title = {Are Horticultural Exports a Replicable Success Story?  Evidence from Kenya and Côte d'Ivoire},
      address = {2004-08},
      number = {581-2016-39436},
      series = {EPTD Discussion Paper},
      pages = {113},
      year = {2004},
      abstract = {Kenyan horticultural exports are often cited as a success  story in African agriculture.
Fruit and vegetable exports  from Côte d’Ivoire have received less attention, but the  export
value is similar to that of Kenya. This paper  focuses on three questions. First, do the
horticultural  sectors of Kenya and Côte d’Ivoire constitute valid success  stories? Second,
what factors have contributed to the  success (or lack thereof)? And third, to what degree  can
the success be replicated in other African  countries?
The paper finds that Kenyan horticultural  exports are indeed a success story:
horticulture has become  the third largest earner of foreign exchange, more than  half the
exports are produced by smallholders, and  smallholders gain from producing for the export
market. At  the same time, the total number of smallholders producing  for export is relatively
small, and trends in European  retailing may shift the advantage to larger producers.  Côte
d’Ivoire is not as clearly a success story because the  most of the exports are produced on
large industrial  estates and because growth has been uneven. Ivorian exports  rely on
preferential access to European markets relative to  Latin American exporters, raising doubts
about  sustainability.
Factors in the growth and success of  horticultural exports include a realistic exchange
rate,  stable policies, a good investment climate, competitive  international transport
connections, institutional, and  social links with markets in Europe, and  continual
experimentation with the market institutions to  link farmers and exporters. Smallholder
participation is  encouraged by farmer training and extension schemes,  investment in small-scale
irrigation, and assistance in  establishing links with exporters.
Many of the lessons of  Kenyan horticulture can be applied elsewhere in  Africa.
Indeed, Kenya faces increasing competition from  neighboring countries trying to replicate its
success. At  the same time, market institutions take time to develop,  and demand constraints
probably prevent other African  countries from achieving the same level of success as  Kenya.},
      url = {http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/60330},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.60330},
}