Building up niche markets

In marketing language, a niche is a special area for a product or service. ACP agricultural producers are constantly trying to develop niche markets, targetting in particular the Fair Trade, the Ethnic/ Diaspora and the Organic. All, though, glitter more than they glow. The hard message that a niche is often small was brought home at an expert meeting on ways to enhance the production and export capacities of developing countries of agriculture and food products, including niche products, such as environmentally preferable products organised by the UN trade body UNCTAD in Geneva in July 2001. It emphasised that while there seemed to be a mad rush to conquer the organic market for fruit and vegetable exports, it only represented one or two per cent of overall demand. Worth a go though, the meeting urged, especially if producers also aimed at expanding the domestic market, if standards could be harmonised, and if funders could support farmers during their switch in production. That s a lot of if s in one small niche.In marketing language, a niche is a special area for a product or service. ACP agricultural producers are constantly trying to develop niche markets, targetting in particular the Fair Trade, the Ethnic/ Diaspora and the Organic. All, though,..