ABOUT STCP

Fruit and nut tree crops systems in Africa, such as cocoa, cashew and specialty coffee, offer significant opportunities to generate income for smallholder farmers, as well as foreign exchange and employment. Tree crop systems also play a critical role in increasing and sustaining biodiversity and sound management of natural resources. Country and regional assessments noted that tree crops play a strategically important role in African agriculture. However, these systems have received little attention from local governments, international donors, or the business community in terms of development assistance or support. In light of this, USAID Africa Division's Office of Sustainable Development examined the needs and options for a Sustainable Tree Crops Program (STCP) in both Western and Eastern Africa (click for map). In doing so, the program was designed with input from both international and local African agribusiness firms, international industry and trade groups, associations, and other US agencies and donors.