Cinnamon is the most common baking spice in the world. It comes from a small evergreen tree that’s part of the Lauraceae family. Genus Cinnamomum regroups some species whose stem bark is harvested, conditioned and traded as cinnamon in the international market. Over the centuries, the species have been domesticated so that now at least six different ones are grown in Southeast Asia. One of the species is burmannii, also known as Koerintji Cinnamon, which generates income for numerous smallholder farmers in Kerinci district, Jambi, Indonesia. Koerintji cinnamon is known for its unparalleled quality that comes with its sharp and sweet flavour, with a slightly bitter edge. However, international market requirements for product certification and quality standards make it difficult for a farmer to comply. Our research will address issues related to (improvement of) productivity, sustainability and value chains faced by cinnamon producers in Kerinci, to strengthen their product’s value chains. Smallholder farmers are very vulnerable to a well-functioning market, and thus empowering the value chains of agricultural products will increase farmers resilience to have access to the market. The research will analyse the development of agricultural value chains, certification & standards on trade mechanism to help farmers earn a better income and prospects.
