The International Trade Centre (ITC) works to build sustainable agricultural exports strengthen intraregional trade. In 2012 alone, ITC assisted farmers, communities agri-food enterprises in 23 least developed countries (LDCs) small isldeveloping states (SIDS), increasing their trade income-generating capacity by 10–20% on average. ITC’s interventions are based on market demand, ensuring sustainability: we assist enterprises in meeting market needs, upgrading value chains facilitating creation of linkages between sellers buyers.
Inclusive sustainable agribusiness value chain roadmap alliances for action
Building inclusive sustainable agribusiness value chains is at heart of ITC’s work – We deliver home-grown, market-led solutions to identify opportunities for value acquisition, retention, addition, creation distribution in order to maximize agriculture sector contributions to broad-based socio-economic development.
Fruits vegetables
ITC aims to improve quality quantity of fruits vegetables exported by developing countries. To do so, we create strategic development plans outlining status of fruit vegetable market in a country explain how to overcome challenges to reach a target exporting goal. This involves working with farmers, exporters, importers, trade support institutions policymakers, providing them with training advice.
Coffee
ITC’s The Coffee Exporter’s Guide is world’s most extensive source of information on all aspects of international trade of coffee. Topics include production sales statistics, contracts, logistics, electronic trade, futures, hedging, quality issues, certifications, social aspects, environment climate change. The guide is accessible online, free of charge.
Cocoa
Export prices of cocoa have been high since 2002, compared with prices of most other agricultural products from developing countries. This partly explains why ITC has had only a few, small projects in cocoa sector in recent years.
Cotton
The cotton sector provides income for millions of people in Africa alone, especially those living in rural areas, is an important source of foreign-exchange earnings. ITC’s efforts in this sector are aimed at making Africa a stronger player in international cotton trade. A key part of this is boosting competitiveness of those working in sector establishing stronger links with cotton importers, especially in Asia.
Fibres
Jute other hard fibres could stage a comeback in world markets, in response to increase in oil prices, which hurts competitiveness of synthetic jute substitutes. However, in order to take advantage of this opportunity, producers processers need to convert to higher-quality fibre increase their productivity.
Spices
The world market for imported spices culinary herbs is large, valued at around US$ 4 billion. Least developed countries such as Comoros, Madagascar United Republic of Tanzania earn a substantial part of their foreign exchange from spice exports.
Medicinal plants
Medicinal plants extracts are increasingly important export products for many developing countries. As populations age consumers’ preference for natural health products increases, medicinal plants present a niche that exporters in many least developed countries are looking to develop for sustainable production export trade.
Floriculture
Cut flowers ornamental young plants are very important export products for several developing countries in East Africa, South Central America, Middle East. Consumption is on rise, mainly in emerging markets like China, India, Russian Federation, East Asia Eastern Europe. Demin traditional markets of Japan, North America Western Europe is also growing, although more slowly. ITC’s floriculture blog provides a wealth of information about current trends in sector.
Essential oils
Essential oils are raw materials from botanic sources that are used in flavour fragrance industries. Oleoresins are resins from which highly concentrated essential oils can be derived. The recent growth of aromatherapy industry has opened up a new important niche market for complete oils.