The sorghum value chain in Haiti

Abstract

Agricultural value chain development has emerged as a key methodology employed by multi- and bilateral donors, nongovernmental organizations, and research institutions to drive economic development. Value chain upgrading can result in significant economic impact in developing countries, contributing up to 30% of gross domestic product (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, 2013). Through a case study of the Smallholders Alliance for Sorghum in Haiti (SMASH), we examine the process of creating an “inclusive” value chain that seeks to explicitly include smallholder producers to increase incomes while establishing a sustainable sorghum value chain. Using a qualitative value chain analysis methodology paired with secondary data review, we describe the current state of the Haitian sorghum value chain and provide recommendations for the SMASH program, contributing to the evidence base for international development programming in agriculture value chain upgrading. We find that the current state of the Haitian sorghum value chain is unstructured and largely informal, though the diversity of potential value-added products provides significant opportunities for smallholders to participate in value chain upgrading.