The tropical world is rich in raw materials that have potential demand in local and international markets.
Changing market trends and consumption habits are creating niches for exotic fruits, nuts, medicinal
plants, and organic raw materials, such as essential oils, natural colours, spices, and tannins. New
opportunities have also arisen for traditional commodities (involving new products from cassava,
sugarcane, and livestock) and for local seed production.
But small-scale farmers and entrepreneurs face numerous barriers that prevent them from taking full
advantage of these market opportunities. They generally have little business experience and lack
information about technologies, markets, and prices. Moreover, rural areas offer few support services
(such as credit, transportation, and communication) for commercial activities, and macro economic
policies are often biased in favour of larger scale agriculture in more favoured environments. The trend
towards the globalisation of the world economy poses both threats and opportunities to the sustainability
of the livelihoods of resource poor farmers in developing countries.