MARKET FOR VILLAGE FARMERS PROJECT

 

FPDA’s bulb onion solar dryer projects for farmers at Kelta villages are an investment innovations that is enhancing farmers’ participation in the value chain system.

ADDING VALUE TO FARMING

Story and pictures by TONY PALME

THE ‘value chain’ system is an important process that people who want to take fruit and vegetable farming seriously as a business must understand.

To become a full-time farmer, and be successful at it, one has to understand the dynamics of the value chain system.

Most people have the interest to venture into commercial fruit and vegetable farming because they have the land but to actually start it is a challenge.

It is challenging because very little thought process is put into understanding the business dynamics and of course the value chain system involved in moving fresh produce to the markets.

These people are mostly based in the rural communities and lack business knowledge, technical skills and capacity to start a business.

Even if they start a farm, there will always be the need to find a market for their fresh produce supply, and they will have to be prepared to meet the expectations of the markets relating to crop quality and consistency of supply if they are serious about getting into business.

To address these challenges faced by the farmers and potential farmers in the fruit and vegetable sector, the government had established the Fresh Produce Development Agency (FPDA).

FPDA is the lead agency responsible for providing farming extension services relating to crop production, pre and post-harvest advisory services, quality management trainings, pest and disease management trainings, business advisory services and linking up farmers to the markets.

The value chain and innovation program under FPDA has the intention to develop the potential and build capacities of male and female farmers in the value chain system so that they can meaningfully participate in a commercially and economically viable and sustainable horticulture industry.

FPDA value chain and innovation program manager Rex Duma explains the pros’ and cons’ of the fresh produce value chain system and provides some insights for existing and aspiring fresh produce farmers on what they can do to become successful in their business endeavors.

“The farmer or producer must have a better understanding of how a farm produce leaves the farm gates in one location and ends up on the market shelves in another location.

“Having a good grasp of what the value chain system is and how it works will put you in the box seat to really map out where the opportunities and challenges are so you are able to make informed decisions about going into business and succeeding in this sector.

“The whole value chain process is a sequence of related business activities from the provision of inputs to production, pre and post-harvesting, transportation, consolidation and marketing the crop to end buyers.

“The players performing these key functions are linked by a series of business transactions when the produce is passed on from the farmers/producers to the end consumers.

“It is quite a long process that involves careful planning and coordination amongst key players where smooth information flow along the chain and strict compliance to market requirements pertaining to quality and consistency must be strictly adhered to.

FPDA’s bulb onion solar dryer projects for farmers at Kelua.

“From production to consumption, quality and consistency must be maintained at all times along every stage of the value chain until it reaches the market. That is why it is known as the value chain system.  

“It is absolutely important that farmers as producers must know what the market wants and demands – i.e. the food crop types, the quality, the quantity, and of course the ability to supply consistently to the market.”

He emphasized that farmers need to be aware that markets only want to do business with suppliers who can meet their demand on a consistent basis and not seasonally as is the norm.

Duma stated that the common market requirements for fresh produce suppliers focuses on quality, price, reliability of supply, flexibility and time from order to delivery before the produce hit the shelves, mess or restaurants.

He maintained that local people also do not understand the value chain system properly (what it takes to manage the different stages from production to supply).

“This is where the FPDA comes in – to educate, train, and build the capacity of farmers and farming communities to get it right.

“Whether it’s from the farm gates to the open markets, shelves in supermarkets or even messes in remote mining areas, value must be maintained at all costs by all players involved along the value chain, irrespective of the role they play.

“As mentioned earlier, our people have the land resources. They need to be properly equipped with the skills to produce quality.

“They must know how to apply standard farming practices so that they maintain quality from the farm gates to the top-end markets.

“This is all about adding value to the process and building capacity of our farmers to comply with the nature of the fresh produce value chain system.

“If you cannot comply with the market requirements, you are out of the business. No markets will want to buy from you.

“Markets look at quality and supply consistency and that is why it is important for farming households to understand the value chain system in its entirety,”  Duma said.

FPDA chief executive officer Mark Worinu said FPDA has a monstrous structure to develop the horticulture industry in the country.

The FPDA’s Market for Village Farmers project is a link between the markets and the farming community. Seen here is the MVF project officers at Mondia, Gembogl.

“The value chain system is one of our programs. It is an important one and involves several key stages that a farmer need to get it right.

“If you are growing potato, you must know how to prepare the soil, handle the seedlings, control germination, control pests and diseases, know how to harvest and do packaging, have them stored, find a market, and have your potato transported to the market in stable conditions.

“It requires serious commitment but it is rewarding. We are talking about creating an industry. So we need increased funding to do it right in all our programs.

“Our people have the potential to supply the domestic markets. FPDA is here to facilitate capacity building and developing innovative ways for our people to adapt best farming practices.

“We are trying to create a fair playing field for our farmers to become experts in the production and supply of fresh foods.

“We have long term goals and that is to stop the imports of foreign fresh food products from coming into our country.

“Our own people can grow and feed the nation. We need to have a realistic investment policy in building the capacity of our farmers in the horticulture industry.

“FPDA is creating links between farmers and markets and ensuring there is balance in the value chain system where consistency is maintained to create a win-win situation,” Worinu added.

He revealed that FPDA is putting in enormous efforts to build the capacity of farmers and improve the value chain system through its value chain and innovation program.

Few notable interventions include the model farms project under the Village Extension Workers (VEW) program, the bulb onion solar dryer project initiative of  Worinu, and the establishment of market links for farmers through the Market for Village Farmers (MVF) project.

 

The FPDA’s Market for Village Farmers project is a link between the markets and the farming community. Seen here is the MVF project officers at Mondia, Gembogl.