Table of Contents

I. INTRODUCTION

II. HIGHLIGHT OF RECENT DECISIONS

III. CONCLUSIONS

I. INTRODUCTION

1. Tropical fruits account for a very small, though growing, share of agricultural export earnings. Expansions in tropical fruit export sectors have generally represented positive growth opportunities in recent years, particularly as traditional export commodities have generally experienced declining real prices. The contribution of tropical fruits to improving the incomes and food security of growers, as well as the economic returns to exporters, is a welcome development, particularly in some low-income, food-deficit countries (LIFDCs).

2. The potential for increased production, consumption and trade of tropical fruits is significant enough to justify intensive, concerted and collective efforts at the international level to further develop the sector. Some trends will make this clearer. Among the scores of tradable tropical fruits, only 4 of them, namely pineapples, mangoes, avocados and papaya represent, on average, approximately 75 percent of total world tropical fruits production and 90 percent of exports in fresh form. Many more fruits are increasingly being traded. Demand growth has been robust.

3. Recognizing that tropical fruits could provide the opportunities for raising foreign exchange earnings, employment and incomes and food security, developing countries have been working towards organised collective action since 1996. Delegates to the Second Session of the FAO Sub-Group on Tropical Fruits informally set up the International Tropical Fruits Network (TFNet) on 8 May 1999 in Gold Coast, Australia. In doing so, they selected Malaysia as the host country for the TFNet headquarters and accepted its offer to fund the Secretariat for three years. The informal Working Group on TFNet requested that the First General Assembly be held in 2000.

II. HIGHLIGHT OF RECENT DECISIONS

4. In pursuance to the decisions taken at the IGG on Bananas and Tropical Fruits held at Gold Coast, Australia, the first General Assembly of TFNet was held in Kuala Lumpur on 27-29 July 2000. The Assembly, which was attended by 30 countries, 5 international and regional organizations, 2 non-governmental organizations and 12 representatives from the private sector, endorsed the constitution, rules of procedures, programme of work and budget as well as membership fees of TFNet. Four programme areas were approved and eight projects were developed in these areas:

• Improving the international information system on tropical fruits;
• Supporting research and development in production, processing and marketing;
• Tropical fruits market development and trade promotion;
• Strengthening financing and investment flows for tropical fruits.

5. TFNet also organized a Technical and Trade Seminar in July 2001, covering a wide range of topics related to research and development (R&D), post-harvest handling, international trade, nutrition and human health. A Special Assembly was held back-to-back with the Seminar to review the progress of TFNet. The Assembly emphasized the importance of expanding membership of TFNet. Thus far, three countries, namely Bangladesh, Fiji and Malaysia, are members, while a number of international and regional organizations, associations, private enterprises and individuals have become associate and honorary members of TFNet. Some governments from Africa, Latin America and Asia have indicated a significant interest to join TFNet in due course. The next General Assembly of TFNet will be held in 2003.

6. TFNet is currently developing a global information system on tropical and subtropical fruits in collaboration with international and regional organizations, such as FAO, the International Trade Centre (ITC-UNCTAD/WTO) and the Centre for Applied Biosciences International (CABI), covering technical, trade and market information necessary for expanding the production and trade of tropical fruits. In addition, TFNet is also planning projects and technical workshops on:

• Conservation and sustainable utilization of fruit genetic resources;
• Organic horticulture;
• Fruit fly management;
• Post-harvest handling and minimal processing;
• International regulations and requirements for export markets, including phytosanitary requirements and alternatives to methyl bromide treatment;
• Product utilization (food and non-food uses); and
• Promotion of research into the nutritional value and phytochemical contents of tropical fruits. In this regard, members and partners of TFNet from both producing and consuming countries should benefit from participation in these activities, besides having access to the database of TFNet.

7. As for membership, the First General Assembly approved three categories of membership, i.e. Ordinary, Associate and Honorary members. The General Assembly endorsed membership fees of US$ 10 000 and US$ 5 000 annually respectively for Ordinary and Associate members.

III. CONCLUSIONS

8. The primary purpose of this document, while briefly commenting on the growing importance of the tropical fruit sector as a potential source of increased incomes and export earnings, was to report on the current status of TFNet. The Network is a broad-based, informal international endeavour designed to promote market information and development of the tropical fruit sector worldwide. Immediate and direct beneficiaries of TFNet are individuals, private companies, public institutions and other entities in member countries and international agencies involved in the production, consumption and trade of tropical fruits.

9. However, the progress in establishing TFNet has been lengthy. Countries have been slow in responding to the membership drives that were painstakingly undertaken by the Secretariat, particularly in importing consuming countries. Delegates are invited to discuss and recommend the measures necessary to more efficiently attract new members. Since the creation of TFNet, it has become increasingly clear that more flexibility in membership accessibility, administration and market information, is required in the network. Members may want to reconsider the various categories of membership and generate the dynamism that can only come about through greater private sector participation. Therefore, while the infrastructure is still being established, the income stream is not yet in place and the extent of available expertise and staff to TFNet not fully defined. Delegates are invited to consider how membership could be expanded, particularly from importing, consuming countries.

10. Despite the difficulties in establishing TFNet, ultimately the research and development support given to TFNet could increase productivity, value added and market size in a cost-effective manner. At the intermediate level, research and development organizations operating in the sector, as well as funding agencies and investors, would gain from the comprehensive, timely and accurate information made available with the help of the project. This would ensure sound investments in the tropical fruit sector, with the ultimate beneficiaries including target groups, small farmers and traders and the undernourished. The further gains of these beneficiaries could improve farm incomes, trading and processing returns, balance nutrition and food security.