By:
·
Toshiro Mado (Program Officer, Agro-processing Project, SAA ,Tokyo-
Japan)
·
Leonides Halos-Kim (Research- Postharvest Specialist, International
Institute of Tropical Agriculture,
Ibadan –Nigeria)
·
Antoine Aoga (Food Technologist, SAA-IITA Agro-processing country Coordinator,
Cotonou, Benin).
·
Meeting of Information
Requirements of all Target Groups within Post-Harvest Sector:the SAA/IITA
Agro-Pocessing Project Experience.
o
By T.Mado, L.Halos-Kim &
A. Aoga
Since 1986, the Sasakawa
Africa Association (SAA) has
collaborated with the Global 2000 program of the Carter Center in finding ways
to raise the productivity of African farmers.
Introduction of proven
agricultural technology is the key to overcoming hardship and hunger that
blights the lives of millions of people in Africa.
Sasakawa-Global 2000 (SG2000)
projects are currently under way in some 10 African countries.
The perishability and
bulkiness of agriculture products are important reasons farmers in many areas
fail to benefit from the growing food demand in population centres. If crops
start to spoil before they reach consumers, or if harvest prices are low, the
efforts of farmers to double and triple their yields may be futile. One way
farmers can avoid these postharvest losses and add value to their harvested
crops is through processing.
A constraint to the full
utilisation of food crops in Africa is
the lack of technologies to facilitate processing them into a more durable form
immediately after harvest. This results in both qualitative and quantitative
losses.
SAA and the International
Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) launched a collaborative project in
1994 to introduce improved tools and simple machines for processing cereals,
roots and tubers, and oilseeds into different foodstuffs.
The SAA-IITA Agro-Processing
Project is aimed to identify, develop and disseminate appropriate postharvest
(agro-processing) technologies to the rural processors working initially in
Ghana & Benin and puts emphasis on enhancing the welfare of the rural
families particularly: women & children; small-scale crop and food
processors; and local manufacturers.
The project works with other governmental and non-governmental
organizations working on improving crop postharvest system in each country.
In Ghana, SAA & IITA work
with the Ministry of Agriculture through the Agricultural Engineering Services
Division (AESD), the Women in Agricultural Development(WIAD).
In Benin, SAA & IITA work
with the Direction de la Formation
Opérationnelle et de la Vulgarisation (DiFOV) of the Ministry of Agriculture,
Livestock & Fisheries.
Each stakeholder is bound by
the common desire to succeed and so maintain close communication and share
information and resources.
Local manufacturers are also
important partners in the project. They are engaged in the fabrication of the
agro-processing equipment and make them available locally with the associated
services needed to maintain and sustain the functionality of the equipment.
IITA is responsible for
technology development and spearheads the training courses on development
fabrication and servicing of the technologies.
SAA and the collaborating
partners are responsible for the promotion of the technologies through
demonstrations and developing partnerships/linkages with appropriate sectors in
making the technologies available to the end-users.
The weak linkage between
agriculture and industry can be seen quite often. Most of the agro-metal
workshops (manufacturers) are located in the urban areas while most farmers and
agro-processors are in the rural areas do not have access to the manufacturers
and do not know the kind of technologies available. This gap between farmers
and manufacturers obstructs the integrated business development interests of
both parties.
The project aims to fill this
gap and operates to provide information on agro-processing technology
opportunities and training. Activities of the project are designed at enabling
the environment including human and material resources to source, adapt and
adopt technological interventions.
Training is provided to
development and extension workers as well as end-users to enable them manage
the project and sustain the technologies.
Different types of training
are conducted for various groups of beneficiaries.
One type is training on design, development and management
agro-processing technologies It is designed to develop skills of personnel who
are responsible for demonstrating the technologies and in training operators.
They are also expected to
oversee the sustainability of the technologies in the transition from a
project-base to a processor or farmer- managed system.
A second type of training is
on manufacturing of agro-processing equipment. It is aimed at enabling local
manufacturers to meet the demands for improved agro- processing equipment.
Servicing of the equipment is
now integrated in the training program for manufacturers.
Recently, the importance of
after-sales service and quality control to sustain the functionality of the
processing equipment become necessary.
Consequently also, quality
control task forces or teams are being organised and mobilised by participating
manufacturers in an effort to maintain a high standard of equipment being
delivered.
The training has been
decentralised and conducted in-country to promote the local manufacturing
industry. This encouraged the use of locally available materials and services
reducing manufacturing costs and eliminating importation cost, thus making the
technologies more affordable to the users.
The third of training covers
operations and management of technologies. It is intended to enable operators,
farmers, and agro-processors to optimise the training includes actual operation
of the equipment, analyses of advantages and disadvantages of the technologies,
and tips for successful agro- enterprise
management. Trained extension workers and the manufacturers usually
conduct this type of training. Consequently, the extension workers increase their
contacts with farmers and agro-processors, which improves their credibility
.For the manufacturers, it is part of their product promotion and after-sales
services.
Fields
demonstrations provide an opportunity for extension workers and manufacturers
to get direct responses from farmers
and agro-processors on the suitability of the technologies being introduced.
Farmers and processors are allowed to
operate the equipment during the demonstration giving them immediate exposure
to the technology. This process stimulates interaction and generates
information on design, make and performance of the technologies which are
communicated back to the designer. This feedback mechanism facilitates
technology development and enhances the suitability and adoptability of the
technology being promoted.
Involving
policy makers and development agencies during demonstrations also allow
for sensitisation of rural development
projects which could solicit support for funding, adoption and implementation.
Parallel
to the demonstration activity, model processing centres are established to
showcase improved agro-processing technologies and their associated benefits.
The set –up of the centre is based on system dynamic in which factors affecting
and affected by the technologies are present. Unlike field demonstrations ,
which are done occasionally, the processing centre operates under actual
circumstances affecting operation efficiency, management and profitability. The
centre also serves as training venue for researchers and extension workers
while providing more information on utilisation potentials and constraints that
are used to fine-tune the technologies.
The
centres are established with the active participation of farmers and
agro-processors in different agro-
ecological environments. The sites are selected on the basis of crops and
cropping patterns, volume of production, nature of crop processing and
utilisation, accessibility to markets, availability of extension services, etc.
The sites are also selected for their potential for commercial activities and
market expansion.
Technology
development and technology transfer processes take time and require
multilateral information exchanges among agencies involved to optimise
utilisation of their limited resources.
One
key role that the project plays is to stimulate multilateral information
exchange and co-operation that could create a consensus that developing an
agro-processing industry must be a joint effort of several stakeholders, each
one having an unique and complementary role to play. This linkage also promotes
exchange of information and eliminates duplication of development efforts
resulting in more efficient project management.
NGOs
(non-governmental organisations) and other development organisations in country
contact SAA/IITA project for
information on appropriate type of equipment available and where they could be
purchased.
For promotion of developed equipment other
means of information are used:
Use of mass media (print, radio, video,
television )
Participation in the trade fairs and farmers
days.
One
of the most satisfying results of the SAA/IITA partnership has been the results
on the manufacturing side. Today, more than 83 fully-trained machinists,
welders, mechanics and other technicians from collaborating manufacturers in
Ghana & Benin and from countries
reached by SAA/IITA Project adopting improved agro-processing equipment like
Togo, Mali, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mozambique, Uganda are a direct
result of this partnership.
Over
the last 7 years, the SAA/IITA Agro-processing Project has disseminated
different types of agro-processing equipment chosen according to the crop and food processing patterns in the
localities.
Table 1- Collaborating manufacturers
|
COMPANY
NAME/ LOCATION |
TYPE OF INSTITUTION |
AGRO-PROCESSING EQUIPMENT
ADOPTED |
|
BENIN APROMAH, Bohicon Association pour la Promotion des Matériels
Agro-Alimentaires et Hydraulique
CAMEMEC , Godomey Construction-Ajuqstage-Menuiserie Métallique et
Clouterie CFTS,
Ouidah Centre de Formation Technique Mgr Steinmetz
COBEMAG,Parakou Coopérative Béninoise de Matériels Agricoles |
Semi-private/Cooperative Private Private Semi-private/ Cooperative |
Wet-Type grinder, Oil press, Grater, Double Screw Press In-Field Cart, Grater,
Double Screw Press, Single Screw Press, Cassava Mash Sifter, Multi-Crop
Thresher, Chipper, Wet-Type Grinder, Digester, Grain Cleaner/ Sorter,
Fermenting Rack Grater, Double Screw Press,
Multi-Crop Thresher, Grain Cleaner/Sorter, wet-Type Grinder In-Field Cart, Grater,
Double Screw Press, Cassava Mash Sifter, Multi-Crop Thresher, Grain
Cleaner/Sorter, Wet-Type Grinder, Sheanut Crusher, Rice Mill, Chipper |
|
GHANA ITTU – GRATIS Foundation ,
Tema Intermediate Technology
Transfer Units – Ghana Regional Appropriate Technology Services (8 Re gional IITUs partipating) ENTESEL, Tema Engineering and Technical
Sevices Ltd. R.T.S.C Mampong and Techiman Rural Technology Service
Center |
Formerly, Government, now a
Foundation Private Private (IFAD supported
project) |
Multi-Crop Thresher, Grain Cleaner /Sorter, Grater,
Chipper, Palm oil Digester /Kernel Cracker Multi-Crop Thresher, Grain
Cleaner/Sorter, In-Field Cart, Chipper, Wet-Type Grinder, Palm Oil Digester, Grater, Double Screw Press,
Fermenting Rack, Chipper |
|
ETHIOPIA NRC, Nazareth National Research Center (Agric.Mechanization
Research Division) TIBEBU Metal Work, Awassa |
Government Private(Trained by NRC) |
Multi-Crop Thresher,
Grinder, Polisher Multi-Crop Thresher |
|
MALI IMAF, Bamako Industrie Mali Flexible |
Private |
Multi-Crop Thresher, Grain
Cleaner/Sorter |
|
BURKINA FASO CNEA Ouagadougou & Bobodioulasso (Centre National
Equipement Agricole) |
Government |
Multi-Crop Thresher, Grain
Cleaner/Sorter |
|
MOZAMBIQUE AGRO-ALFA S.AR.L, Maputo Agricultural Tools &
Equipment Rural Assistance Metal Works KANES Alfarias Agricolas,
SARL, Maputo |
Private Private |
Grater, Double Screw Press,
Chipper, Cassava Mash Sifter Grater, Double Screw Press,
Chipper, |
|
TOGO FAMEZIO, Tsevié Fabrication Metallique de Zio |
Private |
Grater, Double Screw Press |
|
UGANDA AGECO, Iganga Afro General Engineers and
Contractors AEATRI, Kampala Agricultural Engineering
Appropriate Technology Research Institute NVTI, Kampala Nakawa Vocational Training
Institute TONNET ENTERPRISES, Kampala |
Private Government Government (Supported by
JICA) Private |
Grater, Double Screw Press,
Fermenting Rack, Cassava Mash Sifter Chipper, Wet-Type Grinder Chipper, Wet-Type Grinder,
Gari Frying Stove Grater, Double Screw Press,
Fermenting Rack, Cassava Mash Sifter |
The success of the project is seen not only in the
increasing number of agro-processing equipment manufactured and sold by trained
manufacturers but also in the strengthening of linkages among the various
stakeholders .The stakeholders know their roles and responsibilities in
relation to the different elements of the project resulting in its smooth implementation. Table 2 shows an
example of this linkage in training and field demonstration.
Table 2-Role sharing among
stakeholders of the agro-processing project
|
STAKEHOLDERS |
TRAINING FOR EXTENSIONIST |
TRAINING FOR MANUFACTURERS |
TRAINING FOR USERS |
FIELD DEMONSTRATION
/PRODUCTION PROMOTION |
|
Ministry of Agriculture |
Staff Appointment as
Counterpart |
|
Planning and Co-ordination
of Field Activity |
Planning and Co-ordination
of Field Activity |
|
Ministry of Industry |
Staff Appointment as
Counterpart |
|
Planning and Co-ordination
of Field Activity |
Planning and Co-ordination
of Field Activity |
|
Agro-metal Workshops/Manufacturers |
|
-Selection - Cost Sharing |
Customer Service |
Production, Quality
Control, Promotion/Marketing |
|
Farmers and Agro-Processors |
|
|
Technology Utilisation |
Feedback |
|
IITA (other research and
development institutions) |
Trainer |
Trainer |
|
-Technology design, testing
and adaptations -Quality Control |
|
SAA |
Co-ordination and Funding |
Co-ordination and Funding |
Feedback |
Funding |
We
notice that, it is very important this role sharing because agro-processing is
a multifaceted issue, the involvement of many development and extension
agencies is very important and that each one understand and execute their roles
accordingly contributing their resources and benefiting from it.
A
notable accomplishment of the project is building up the capacity of the partners
and strengthening the human resource-base in each country, recognising the
comparative advantage of the local partners in the dealing directly with the
end-users. Trained staff of participating national and other development
programs is now able to organise effective field demonstration and implement
training courses in relation to technology operation and management.
Several
adoption decisions in each country resulted from recommendations of the trained
staff. They also participate in designing and implementing monitoring surveys
to assess the impact of the project.
Training
of manufacturers and co-ordinating their activities so that the technologies
are supplied with the right quality is yet another output of the project. The
after –sales service component of the training makes the manufacturing industry
more viable and attractive, eliminating one of the constraints to adoption of
imported technologies, the availability of spare parts and services.
We
should not use the excuse that technology doesn’t move because of weak
extension system. We found this as a constraint therefore we have high priority
to develop that capacity more than the requirement for technologies.
A
vision shared by project collaborators is to develop the local training
capability to reduce project costs and empower the local stakeholders.
Manufacturers
are trained to understand the design features of the equipment so that they
could do some local adaptations. Their training also focuses on quality control
and after service more than skill development. The project also encourages
manufacturers to take up the costs of demonstrations as part of their
promotional activities. Operator’s training should in fact be considered as
part of manufacturers’ care. They need to evolve their business operations to
adopt the cost of operators’ training in order to maintain their linkage with
the customers.
The
collaborating manufacturers in Ghana and Benin (table 1) agreed among each
other to form a network. The network will enhance their capability on the basis
of complementarily of roles in the supply of demanded equipment while
maintaining competitiveness a driving factor in producing high quality products
and pursuing their business objectives.
In
Benin Republic, the network (Réseau des fabricants de Matériels de
Transformation des Produits Agricoles, Réseau F.M.T.A.- Benin)formed by the
alliance of the 4 collaborating manuafcturers (COBEMAG, CAMEMEC,CFTS and
APROMAH) won the recognition of the government to operate officially to supply
the demand for improve agro-processing equipment. The network has been
registered under the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
IN
Ghana the process of registration of the network is continuing. One of the network’s activities embodied in their
by-laws is the establishment of store for spare parts which will be accessible
to the members of the network and the users. Availability of spare parts is key
to sustainability of the machines and is a concern of all stakeholders.
As the project prepares for more rigorous impact
assessment , it was necessary to locate the agro-processing equipment
fabricated and sold by trained manufacturers.
A
monitoring survey is being carried out for this purpose and to find out the
extent to which project intervention is affecting the ownership and management
of the equipment that could relate to who actually benefits from the process
and sustainability of the system. The first part of the survey included only
the more mechanised machines which involves high investment costs but has
capacity to generate income.
It
was found out that some individual entrepreneurs already adopting the
technology and that management of the technologies is mainly in the hands of
these users.
These
equipment are commonly owned by group of processors (usually women’s groups)
either bought through loans or donated by some development organisations.
Normally the group hires an operator and the machine is used to process the
product of the members and times used to service non-members. Group ownership
brings the users to invest collectively and benefit from it.
The
level of adoption of the technologies is encouraging. One contributing factor
is the awareness created by the activities of the project and the linkages
created between technology-users, the manufacturers and potential funding
organisations.
Problems
on operation, repair and maintenance reported by users such as proximity of
services , lack of training on proper operation and management of the equipment
are guiding the project team to re-orient its strategy.
The adoption of technologies is shown in the
table 3 of the sales record from
1995 to 2000.
Table 3: Total sales of selected
agro-processing equipment in Ghana and Benin, 1995 –2000
|
Type of equip. |
Cassava grater |
Double Screw Press |
Palm Digester |
Multi Thresher |
Wet Grinder |
|
No of Units |
217 |
176 |
43 |
39 |
5 |
IDENTIFIED GAPS
The questions in front of us are:
A
quick look at the project achievements highlights the visibility of project in
helping to promote the agro- processing enterprise to provide sustainable
income to farmers, agro-processors and manufacturers. The project is able to
demonstrate that a collective efforts of different agencies could bring improve
agro-processing technologies to target beneficiaries. Different entities
working together reduce the cost of the project as it eliminates duplication of
efforts and waste of resources. It also addresses directly the specific issues
raised by the stakeholders.
Target
beneficiaries are guided properly on appropriate sources of information and
possible linkages to relevant projects and funding institutions.
The
national programs have direct responsibility in improving the delivery of
technological development in their domain. It should make a clear message and
take a strong initiative to lead several collective efforts in pursuing
projects towards the national goal of food availability and sufficiency.
The need to reach out to involve more private
enterprises who could take care of their businesses, training of manufacturers
on quality control, the government policies (on supplies of raw materials,
marketing system, improved infrastructures)
The
need to encourage production of good quality products among others.
References:
Feeding
the Future, 1997, Issue 10, produced for SAA by Raitt Orr & Associates Ltd, London SWI.
Feeding
the Future, 2000, Issue 15, produced for SAA by Raitt Orr & Associated Ltd.
London SW1.
Kwarteng,Joseph,ed.1999.Enhancing
Postharvest Technology Generation and Dissemination in Africa. Mexico City:
Sasakawa Africa Association.
Halos-Kim,L.
and T.Mado Introducing Improved Agro-processing Equipment in Sub-Saharan
Africa: the SAA/IITA Experience. In workshop 2001 Africa Food Security in a Changing Environment: Sharing Good
Practices and Experiences, Kampala, Uganda, June 6th to 9th, 2001.