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Honduras Nontraditional Crops
While the total value of export merchandise fell in
1990 and
1991 and had still not recovered in 1993 to its 1989
level, the
overall agricultural sector output has grown somewhat
because of
growth in the sale of winter vegetables and shrimp.
Nontraditional
vegetables and fruit produced US$23.8 million in export
revenue in
1990, a figure that was almost double the 1983 figure.
Nontraditional agricultural crops represented 4.8 percent
of the
value of total exports in 1990, compared to 2.8 percent in
1983.
Some development experts argue that government protection
of corn,
bean, and rice production by small farmers is a futile
effort in
the long-term goal of poverty reduction. On the other
hand, they
see significant economic potential for nontraditional
crops, if
they are handled properly. Analysts also note, however,
that
Honduras is at a distinct disadvantage relative to its
Central
American neighbors because of its poor transportation
system
(see Transportation
, this ch.). Nontraditional exports require
the
ability to get fresh produce from the fields to distant
markets
rapidly.
Data as of December 1993
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