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Assignment 4:

Begin CSAM exercises on one key horticultural crop for your county or local area

Select one or crop of interest, begin collecting data via interviews, literature, review, observation, etc. Speak with your colleagues and visit the library to read existing documents. You can ask some of the questions of farmers (those related to production), marketers (about postharvest handling and marketing), and researchers or extension workers (about the entire system). 

Resource: Summary list of key CSA questions (below)

Prepare a brief report on CSA results for each of the 26 components of the commodity system. 
Identify for the crop: Research needs, Extension needs and Advocacy needs.

Submit your report via email.

Sample CSA reports prepared at Amity University (India) and PEF e-learners from past programs on a variety of crops are provided for your review.

Using the summary list provided, and referring to list in Annex 11 of the CSAM Manual for details, design your own survey to collect key data related to your commodity.  Select those questions related to the information you most want to find out more about. Data sources can be published articles or unpublished documents, review articles, interviews, observations or measurements.

Any data you collect should have some purpose—you should be able to explain what you plan to do with the information, and how knowing the facts might benefit the grower/marketers in your country.  In later assignments we will use this data to identify important issues, problems and opportunities for postharvest research, extension work and advocacy that can help reduce food losses.  If you have limited time, concentrate your efforts on the postharvest and marketing sections of the report.

Review the CSAM example questions list provided below by component for one specific commodity.  Discuss the list with your colleagues, use your existing knowledge of the commodity, any available published documents, and any observations or interview results from your own observations during farm and market tours.  Try to organize your thoughts regarding each component, and answer the sample questions to identify problems that may affect postharvest losses and quality or food safety.

If there is information that is not currently available or unknown, make a note of this in your report.  

Summary list of key CSA questions:
Review the Components of the commodity system and sample questions
Components 1 - 7: Pre-Production
1- Importance of the crop. What is the relative importance of the crop? Base your estimate of importance on information on number of producers, amount produced, area of production, and/or market value.
2- Governmental policies. Are there any laws, regulations, incentives or disincentives related to producing or marketing the crop? (e.g., existing price supports or controls, banned pesticides or residue limits)
3- Relevant institutions. Are there any organizations involved in projects related to production or marketing the crop?  What are the goals of the projects? How many people are participating?
4- Facilitating services. What services are available to producers and marketers (for example: credit, inputs, technical advice, subsidies)?
5- Producer/shipper organizations. Are there any producer or marketer organizations involved with the crop?  What benefits or services do they provide to participants?  At what cost?
6- Environmental conditions. Does the local climate, soils or other factors limit the quality of production?  Are the cultivars produced appropriate for the location?
7- Availability of planting materials. Are seeds or planting materials of adequate quality? Can growers obtain adequate supplies when needed?

Components 8 - 11: Production
8- Farmers' general cultural practices. Do any farming practices in use have an effect on produce quality (irrigation, weed control, fertilization practices, field sanitation)?
9- Pests and diseases. Are there any insects, fungi, bacteria, weeds or other pests present that affect the quality of produce?
10- Pre-harvest treatments. What kinds of pre-harvest treatments might affect postharvest quality (such as use of pesticides, pruning practices, thinning)?
11- Production costs. Estimate the total cost of production (inputs, labor, rent, etc).  What are the costs of any proposed alternative methods?

Components 12 - 21: Postharvest
12- Harvest. When and how is produce harvested? by whom? at what time of day?  Why?   What sort of containers are used? Is the produce harvested at the proper maturity for the intended market? 
13- Grading, sorting and inspection. How is produce sorted? by whom? Does value (price) change as quality/size grades change?  Do local, regional or national standards (voluntary or mandatory) exist for inspection?  What happens to culled produce?
14- Postharvest treatments. What kinds of postharvest treatments are used? (Describe any curing practices, cleaning, trimming, hot water dips, etc.) Are treatments appropriate for the product?
15- Packaging. How is produced packed for transport and storage?  What kind of packages are used?  Are packages appropriate for the product? Can they be  reused or recycled?
16- Cooling. When and how is produce cooled?  To what temperature? Using which method(s)?  If temperature measured during cooling? Are methods appropriate for the product?
17- Storage. Where and for how long is produce stored?  In what type of storage facility? Under what conditions (packaging, temperature, RH, physical setting, hygiene, inspections, etc.)? Is the temperature measured while the produce is in storage?
18- Transport. How and for what distance is produce transported?  In what type of vehicle?  How many times is produce transported?  How is produce loaded and unloaded?
19- Delays/ waiting. Are there any delays during handling?  How long and under what conditions (temperature, RH, physical setting) does produce wait between steps?
20- Other handling. What other types of handling does the produce undergo?  Is there sufficient labor available? Is the labor force well trained for proper handling from harvest through transport?  Would alternative handling methods reduce losses? Would these methods require new workers or displace current workers? 
21- Agro-processing. How is produce processed (methods, processing steps) and to what kinds of products?  How much value is added?  Are sufficient facilities, equipment, fuel, packaging materials and labor available for processing?  Is there consumer demand for processed products? 

Components 22 - 26: Marketing
22- Market intermediaries. Who are the handlers of the crop between producers and consumers? How long do they have control of produce and how do they handle it?  Who is responsible for losses /who suffers financially?  Is produce handled on consignment; marketed via direct sales; move through wholesalers? 
23- Market information. Do handlers and marketers have access to current prices and volumes in order to plan their marketing strategies?  Who does the recordkeeping?  Is information accurate, reliable, timely, and useful to decision makers?
24- Consumer demand. Do consumers have specific preferences for produce sizes, flavors, colors, maturities, quality grades, packages types, package sizes or other characteristics?   Are there any signs of unmet demand and/or over-supply?  How do consumers react to the use of postharvest treatments (pesticides, irradiation, coatings, etc.) or certain packaging methods (plastic, Styrofoam, recyclables)?
25- Exports. Is this commodity produced for export?  What are the specific requirements for export (regulations of importing country with respect to grades, packaging, pest control, etc.)?
26- Marketing costs. Estimate the total marketing costs for the crop (inputs and labor for harvest, packaging, grading, transport, storage, processing, etc.).  Do handlers/ marketers have access to credit?  Are prevailing market interest rates at a level that allows the borrower to repay the loan and still make a profit?  Is supporting infrastructure adequate (roads, marketing facilities, management skills of staff, communication systems such as telephone, FAX, e-mail services)? 

From Chapter 38 (DANR 3311) Kitinoja and Kasmire (2002). Modified from LaGra, 1990

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