Opportunities for niche marking in Southern Africa.

 A niche exists for small-scale growers, with cultivation of alternative crops with a higher value per hectare than agricultural crops. Alternative crops are usually medicinal, cosmetic and specialty foods which receive a higher price in the market if grown in an environmentally friendly manner or as certified organic. Fair Trade and organic certification is another option for small-scale growers, where farmers receive a premium for products sold overseas. Additionally farmers have the opportunity to cultivate alternative crops through partnership creation with local communities thereby accessing indigenous knowledge, potentially realizing economic potential of plants long before they are commercialized.