Vegetable production is a key part of nutrition security, but it is increasingly being recognized as a way to provide a much-needed income boost for smallholder farmers too. Especially as they see margins being squeezed by rising fertilizer prices and the impact of climate change.
“In general, governments and development agencies don't focus on vegetables,” Stuart Morris, the director of East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer Foundation, told Devex. “You can actually earn a lot more money from vegetables than you can from field crops, and the impact on nutrition goes much deeper.”
In order to reap the economic benefits of vegetables, however, research shows governments will have to increase investments in farm productivity — including working on improved varieties, alternatives to chemical pesticides, and improving market access. Currently, the worldwide consumption of fruits and vegetables is well below the minimum levels recommended by the World Health Organization, especially in low- and middle-income countries, because of their cost.
About the author
Natalie Donback
Natalie Donback is a freelance journalist and editor based in Barcelona, where she covers climate change, global health, and the impact of technology on communities. Previously, she was an editor and reporter at Devex, covering aid and the humanitarian sector. She holds a bachelor’s degree in development studies from Lund University and a master’s in journalism from the University of Barcelona and Columbia Journalism School.
