Making horticulture supply chains work for farmers and traders

Partners:

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, India
Vijaya Association of Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Co-op Societies of Andhra Pradesh, Vijayawada, India
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Ministry of Food
Indian Council of Industrial Research (CSIR)

Problem:

The opportunities to create wealth and sustainable development from agricultural activities is usually seen in the context of technology innovation and transfer activities, often undertaken in discreet ‘technical packets’ by a range of separate institutions.  All too often projects fail to deliver sustainable impacts because of a lack of understanding of the institutional and managerial arrangements necessary for adaptation, integration and management of information and technology in the whole supply chain.

These managerial and institutional arrangements for managing knowledge generation and transfer were examined in a study of the mango export sector of India from 1999 to 2002.  This project analysed the Integrated Training Programme (ITP) for mango farmers developed and run by the Agricultural and Processed Food Export Development Authority (APEDA) and contracted trainers.  The ITP provided technical guidance to mango farmers producing for UK export markets.  The project evaluated both the institutional framework of technology transfer to farmers and the technical component (concentrating on key post-harvest constraints including controlled atmosphere (CA) storage technology). 

Achievements:

Methodology: Methods for undertaking a stakeholder inventory, establishing patterns of interactions between stakeholders; mapping knowledge sources and flows from the ITP, and a stakeholder evaluation were established.  The relationships between different stakeholders and their respective roles in the marketing of high value produce were mapped. Technical and management systems were developed and field-tested by undertaking a series of case studies in collaboration with a range of marketing organisations that receive imported produce from the target farmers.

A techno-managerial manual which places emphasis on identifying individual stakeholder responsibilities and activities, with trouble shooting and feedback mechanisms.  The manual includes procedures for strengthening the ability of the farmers/labourers themselves, to accurately assess their technology needs and articulate with relevant technology suppliers either directly or indirectly through the marketing organisation.  It also provides decision tools and procedures to aid the interaction between other stakeholders e.g. exporters/importers, in the supply chain.  The manual will assist organisations working with smallholder producers to access and monitor more effectively scientific resources and bring these to bear on those pre- and post-harvest constraints which are preventing market access.