MODELS OF CROP COMMERCIALIZATION AND CROP CLUSTERS

Abstract

The introduction of new crops into a region, or the cultivation of otherwise wild crafted plants can be a significant benefit to the growers, processors and rural communities. Yet the successful introduction of any new crop requires a purposeful market-driven strategy which requires careful consideration and detailed studies on the plant, the development of appropriate sustainable production systems, harvesting and processing requirements, and marketing factors. Those involved in new crop development have long recognized the difficulties in this initial commercialization phase and the multitude of obstacles that arise. As such, we developed several different models of crop commercialization for use in medicinal and aromatic plant development. The introduction of botanicals need not be pursued as a single enterprise, but as part of a crop rotation scheme, in a multi-cropping or combined agro/forestry system in which the use of crop clusters should be considered. Crop clusters refer to the growing (in fields or forest) of several plants simultaneously to reduce grower risk, enhance the number and nature of products that would become available and to provide more than one crop that could generate income and provide other useful products such as food/fiber/fence posts. Many growers in rural communities farm on a small scale and are resource limited. Given the volatile nature of the marketplace, crop clusters could be a strategic vehicle to minimize their risk while fostering economic opportunities by crop diversification. We developed a selection criteria matrix to identify the most promising crops and plant products and crop clusters.