Agriculture remains the backbone of many developing economies. In Africa, for example, farming provides roughly 60% of employment and often contributes the largest share of GDP. Yet much of this sector’s value is still locked in raw commodities. Transforming crops into higher-value products can dramatically raise farm incomes and national export earnings. In Nigeria, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has helped modernize cassava mills and train young engineers to maintain equipment. The IITA youth agripreneurs program now runs processing facilities that “produce new value-added products from cassava”, turning root crops into gari, flour, and starch. These efforts have boosted productivity and quality, enabling Nigerian farmers to reach larger domestic and export markets. Likewise, in East Africa, Uganda’s innovators are extracting fiber from banana stems, a waste byproduct of the country’s vast banana plantations, to weave rugs, mats, and even natural textiles, creating jobs for rural women and youth.
Value-added farming is also gaining ground in South Asia. In Bangladesh, entrepreneurs have invested in processing and packaging to export premium foods. For instance, Sabjiana Limited pioneered shipping fresh vegetables in frozen, value-added packs, enabling large-scale exports at competitive prices. This innovation has opened new markets and helped stabilize prices for small farmers. At the same time, Bangladesh’s leading aquaculture firms (like BD Seafood) introduced modern cold storage and processing, propelling the country’s frozen shrimp and fish exports to record levels (over $456 million in 2023–24).
In India, strong policy support is driving a boom in value-added fisheries. The government has doubled investment in the fisheries sector, funding new processing plants and quality control centers. As a result, shrimp exports soared from ₹8,175 crore (≈ $932 million) in 2011 to ₹40,013 crore (≈ $4.56 billion) by 2023–24. These investments, such as state-of-the-art breeding centers and export infrastructure, are now translating into “quality shrimp value-added products for meeting the demand of global as well as domestic markets”. By moving up the value chain, Indian fish farmers and processors have greatly expanded their incomes and foreign exchange earnings.
Meanwhile, in Pakistan, innovators are turning agricultural waste into wealth. The Natural Fiber Company in Sindh extracts fiber from discarded banana stems and transforms it into ropes, placemats, loofahs, and other eco-friendly goods. This work not only reduces waste but also creates income-generating opportunities for rural women, who handcraft the products from locally sourced banana fiber. Such small-scale ventures illustrate how even traditional staple crops can yield new products when combined with simple technology and market support.
In Southeast Asia, tropical byproducts are becoming raw materials for new industries. The Philippines has mobilized government research and private startups to extract fiber from banana and pineapple farms. For example, technology from the Philippines Textile Research Institute can turn the fibrous wastes of banana pseudostems or pineapple leaves into “natural textile fibers,” effectively creating a new input for fabrics and paper. This innovation dramatically raises farm income: while a raw banana sells for roughly ₱13/kg (≈ $0.22/kg) at the farm gate, its processed fiber can be worth about ₱400/kg (≈ $6.88/kg). These fibers are spun into yarn and woven into mats, textiles, or even “vegan leather,” opening export niches and supporting entire rural value chains. Farmers in banana-growing regions of Asia are finding new value in crop residues. In Pakistan and the Philippines, firms now purchase discarded banana stems to extract durable fiber for ropes, home goods, and fabrics. By converting what was waste into high-value materials, these enterprises generate extra income for farmers and employ artisans (often women) in crafting finished products.
Another example is Vietnam’s spice and coffee sector. Leading exporters like Phuc Sinh Corporation are investing in local processing instead of exporting raw beans. Phuc Sinh processes raw coffee and pepper through wet milling and roasting, and sells not just bulk beans but consumer-oriented products under private labels. The company is “transforming into an integrated coffee and pepper platform, offering value-added products” rather than just commodities. This shift to packaged spices and branded coffee fetches higher margins and retains more value in the local economy.
Latin America’s agricultural transformation shows similarly promising results. According to the World Bank, the region’s agri-food systems have become “globally recognized as some of the most successful in the world,” driving economic development and export growth. Governments and businesses have capitalized on niche products and quality branding. In Peru, for example, the once-obscure grain quinoa has been positioned as a premium “superfood.” Peruvian farmers and exporters now earn about 7% more total revenue from quinoa than in prior years, despite similar volumes, thanks to higher prices (around $2.64/kg) in gourmet markets. This reflects deliberate efforts to differentiate Andean grains with organic certification and marketing, turning them into high-value exports. Similarly, Ecuador has diversified its fruit exports: after five years of negotiations, it recently began shipping a locally bred, seedless “Tango” mandarin variety to the U.S. market. These mandarins fetch premium prices in late-summer windows when U.S. crops are off-season. The first 23-ton shipment in 2025 marked a milestone for Ecuadorian growers, with plans for dozens more containers annually. Such examples illustrate that Latin American farmers, too, can command higher returns by targeting specialty crops and export standards.
These success stories highlight practical strategies that can be applied across regions:
Invest in rural processing hubs. Establishing local mills and small factories equipped with modern machinery lets farmers turn perishable harvests into durable, standardized products. For instance, new cassava mills or vegetable freezing plants help scale up production and improve quality.
Build local technical capacity. Training engineers and fabricators to assemble and maintain equipment (like grinders, dryers, or looms) ensures that innovations endure. In Nigeria and Vietnam alike, local technicians now service processing machines, avoiding long delays and costs associated with foreign imports.
Strengthen market linkages. Connecting farmers to buyers who pay premiums for quality (processors, retailers, exporters) provides incentives to adopt new methods. As Bangladesh’s Sabjiana shows, packaging farm produce into value-added forms opens export opportunities. Likewise, certification programs (organic, fair-trade, safety standards) can enable access to lucrative niche markets. Certifications and strong branding are especially important for products like quinoa or specialty fruits – indeed, Peru’s experience shows that adding quality labels and marketing can significantly boost export prices.
Diversify product portfolios. Encouraging farmers to derive multiple products from one crop spreads risk and increases resilience. Cassava roots can yield flour, starch, and snacks; bananas provide both fruit and fibre; fish can become fresh fillets, frozen packs, or fishmeal. Expanding the range of goods – for example, by developing banana-fiber handicrafts alongside edible bananas – helps stabilize incomes even if one market fluctuates.
Leverage public-private partnerships. Successful projects often involve collaboration among research institutes, government agencies, donors, and businesses. Funding programs or matching grants (as in Vietnam and India) can de-risk equipment purchases. Partnerships also help share knowledge – for example, adaptive technologies like biocontrol for crop diseases or improved storage have been transferred between countries to boost quality and export compliance.
Globally, the evidence is clear that boosting yields alone is not enough; rural economies also need higher-value goods. By following the proven playbook, equipping farmers with technology, skills, and market connections, developing nations can unlock huge hidden potential in agriculture. In each context, turning waste or raw produce into branded products has multiplied farmers’ profits. For example, the Philippines saw farm-gate value jump by hundreds of pesos per kilogram by converting banana stalks into textile fiber. Similarly, Latin American exporters are earning far more by selling premium-quality crops instead of bulk commodities. With supportive policies and partnerships, these approaches can be adapted worldwide. Ultimately, expanding value-added processing, from Asia’s coffee mills to Latin America’s fruit packers, offers a powerful route to rural development, economic resilience, and food security.
By Kosona Chriv
Co-Founder, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer
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NEPAD - Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme https://www.fao.org/4/y6831e/y6831e-02.htm#:~:text=Agriculture%2C%20providing%2060%20percent%20of,growth%20in%20most%20African%20countries
Cassava Processing http://www.iita.org/research/facilities/cassava-processing/#:~:text=New%20processing%20facilities%20were%20built,added%20products%20from%20cassava
Revolutionising seafood and agro-processing: An impact on Bangladesh economy | The Financial Express https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade/revolutionising-seafood-and-agro-processing-an-impact-on-bangladesh-economy#:~:text=Building%20on%20his%20father%27s%20legacy,challenges%20while%20expanding%20market%20access
India Becoming a Leader in Value-Added Fish Processing | Indian Century https://www.indiancentury.in/2024/07/25/india-becoming-a-leader-in-value-added-fish-processing/#:~:text=Shrimp%20exports%20have%20increased%20significantly,40%2C013%20crore
https://www.indiancentury.in/2024/07/25/india-becoming-a-leader-in-value-added-fish-processing/
From waste to wealth, how banana fibers are helping Pakistani communities and the planet - ABC Asia https://www.abc.net.au/asia/how-banana-fibers-from-pakistan-are-saving-the-planet/104632498#:~:text=By%20extracting%20fibres%20from%20discarded,placemats%2C%20handbags%2C%20and%20even%20dishes
https://www.abc.net.au/asia/how-banana-fibers-from-pakistan-are-saving-the-planet/104632498
Philippine Textile Research Institute - DOST-PTRI Champions Filipinnovation of Philippine Tropical Fabrics (PTF) https://www.ptri.dost.gov.ph/s-t/9-transparency-seal/368-dost-ptri-champions-filipinnovation-of-philippine-tropical-fabrics-ptf#:~:text=The%20ability%20of%20the%20Philippines,business%20models%20in%20different%20regions
Project detail - Phuc Sinh Corporation – FMO https://www.fmo.nl/project-detail/64043#:~:text=Founded%20in%202001%2C%20Phuc%20Sinh,higher%20margins%20down%20the%20value
New Challenges Driving Transformations in Latin America’s Agricultural Sector - AgriBusiness Global https://www.agribusinessglobal.com/special-sections/new-challenges-driving-transformations-in-latin-americas-agricultural-sector/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20World%20Bank%2C,key%20player%20in%20global%20markets
Peru exported 35,981 metric tons of quinoa for $95 million, showing an increase in value. https://www.tridge.com/news/peru-exported-35981-metric-tons-of-quinoa-fo-srsjct#:~:text=Between%20January%20and%20August%20of,but%20classified%20as%20a%20whole
https://www.tridge.com/news/peru-exported-35981-metric-tons-of-quinoa-fo-srsjct
Ecuador's Tango Mandarins Make Their US Debut After Five-Year Negotiation https://www.tridge.com/stories/ecuadors-tango-mandarins-make-their-us-debut-after-five-year-negotiation#:~:text=After%20a%20five,substantial%20economic%20benefits%20to%20Ecuador
I hope you enjoyed reading this post and learned something new and useful from it. If you did, please share it with your friends and colleagues who might be interested in Agriculture and Agribusiness.
Mr. Kosona Chriv
Founder of LinkedIn Group « Agriculture, Livestock, Aquaculture, Agrifood, AgriTech and FoodTech » https://www.linkedin.com/groups/6789045/
Co-Founder, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer
Deko Integrated & Agro Processing Ltd
IDUBOR HOUSE, No. 52 Mission Road (by Navis St.)
Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria | RC 1360057
Group Chief Sales and Marketing Officer
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