Fruit products for profit

Growing fruit trees as an enterprise requires only a very small plot of land, commonly a home garden, some labour and minimal capital but it can provide a plethora of products such as fresh fruits, jams, chutneys and pickles. By-products can be used for fermented products such as fruit wines, fruit waste can be used for animal feed, while fruit seeds and nuts can be pressed for oil. Encouraging and promoting fruit trees as a viable enterprise to small-scale farmers can only but enhance livelihoods. It is hoped that policy-makers and development personnel recognize the numerous opportunities that producing and marketing fruit can bring to small-scale farmers.