Establishing agricultural value chains can be very instrumental to economic (agricultural) development in fragile states. For that purpose active engagement of primary (e.g. input suppliers, producers’ organisations) and support stakeholders (research centre) is crucial. For instance in the Netherlands several organizations have joined forces in an attempt to establish and support agricultural value chains in fragile states such as the Palestinian Territories and Afghanistan. At the initiative of the Dutch Flower Auctions (VBN) and with the support of ICCO and Noaber Foundation in the Gaza region economic development is supported through the development of a Palestinian-Israeli-Netherlands flower production and marketing cluster. The supply chain venture has started with the production of flowers, more specifically with carnations, but has plans to expand into summer flowers, vegetables and soft fruit.

For Afghanistan a working group has been created by VNO-NCW (the Dutch Employers’ Organisation) and the Ministry of Defence to support economic reconstruction in Afghanistan with active involvement of companies from a wide range of industries. Besides water management, arts & crafts and education, agriculture has been identified as main focus for activities to be undertaken by the working group. The project group aims at tangible results in 2008 in combination [...]

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