Guidelines for the Analysis of Post-production Systems

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Annex I: Checklists for Major Areas of Concern

The following checklists are taken from the document by M. Flach (1995).
Please note that there is a strong gender differential for accessibility to resources.

1 Interruptions in the Chain of Operations

Question:
Describe recent changes in: (during last 3 to 5 years)

FARM LEVEL OFF-FARM LEVEL (regional/national)

Climate

· new pests, increased plagues
· disasters (drought, flood,
· earthquakes)
· untimely seasonal rains/drought
· storms
· weather favourable to achieving
· food surplus

Security situation

· violent conflicts, disturbances
· thieves, robber bands

Decreased area under cultivation
due to:

· overuse, erosion
· land fragmentation
· indebtedness
· emigration of the farmer and continuation
· of farming activities by wife and children
· insufficient labour
· decrease of water levels

Climate

· new pests, increased plagues
· disasters, heavy seasonal rains

Political & Economic situation

· inflation, devaluation
· changed subsidy, price, food,
· import/export policies
· food security in urban areas

Political & security situation

· strikes
· disturbances, conflicts
· thieves, robber bands

Decreased quality/quantity of
Produce/farm product
due to:

· labour shortage
· on-farm consumption
· biological/technical causes
· inadequate handling/transport
· insufficient/irregular supply

FARM LEVEL OFF-FARM LEVEL (regional/national)

Infrastructure

· transport system
· storage/processing
· facility

Marketing System
emergence, decreased role of:
· private-sector entrepreneurs
· government agencies
· development project

Infrastructure
structural problems in:
· road & transport system
· storage, processing
· market facility

Market
changes in:
· consumer preferences
· (food habits)
· urban demand
· demand on the world market

2. Access to Resources

Question:
Are the following resources available/accessible to farmers/entrepreneurs?

FARM LEVEL and OFF-FARM LEVEL

Markets
· marketing channel (formal, informal)
· market information

Raw materials
· depend on:
· local/intra-regional supply
· seasonality
· competing market
· consumption/use as seed, by-product

Protectants & spare parts
· timely availability
· safety of use
· price level

Land, capital & credit (formal & informal)
availability of credit depends on:
· form of guarantee (collateral, group security)
· delivery of financial services
· cost (incl. interest rate)
· agriculture only/multi-sectorial credit lines

Labour availability
depends on:
· family composition, schooling of children
· labour market (formal/informal)
· other employment opportunities

Education, skills & knowledge
· literacy/numeracy
· education (higher)
· functional skills (agricultural, commercial, technical)
· technology & updated knowledge

Error! Bookmark not defined.Availability of support services
· extension & information
· vocational training
· health/education services

applied research

Organisations and informal networks
· co-operatives
· farmers organisations
· employers/trade associations

Infrastructure
· water, electricity
· roads, railways
· market
· storage, processing, milling

3. Acceptability of Choice of Interventions and Innovations

Question:
Is the intervention proposed/applied appropriate/acceptable?

FARM LEVEL and OFF-FARM LEVEL

Technically appropriate
Equipment, structures
saves time/energy
provides paid employment
· does not depend on locally unavailable:
fuel, spare parts, construction materials
electricity/water
manpower & skills
irregular supply of raw materials
· affected by:
climatological conditions, limited space
· compatible with existing technology

New methods, product & technology
· fits into pre- and post-harvest system
· saves time/energy
· provides paid employment
· produces marketable item

· does not depend on:
locally unavailable manpower & skills, irregular supply of materials

Socio-culturally appropriate
Use of equipment, structures, product, methods
in conflict with:
religious beliefs
group organisational capability
domestic priorities
crop & livestock production priorities
group, status, gender roles

Economically appropriate
Equipment, structures, product
methods
· viability
· correct physical capacity
· no viable alternative
· positive market perspective

Individually acceptable
reluctance due to:
· perceived risks
· earlier bad experience
· status considerations

OFF-FARM LEVEL (regional/national)

Inconvenient location or absence of
· road/transport
· storage
· collection centre, cooperative,union
· mill/factory
· bank branch
· communication facilities other
services e.g.
· repair facilities

4 Affordability, Viability & Marketability

Question:
Is/was the innovation/intervention affordable, viable?

FARM LEVEL and OFF-FARM LEVEL

Affordability
depends on:

financing options
· available cash, savings, actual income
· food surplus
· credit conditions & interest rates
· corporate, private participation
· opportunities for rent or lease

public policies
· inflation, devaluation
· possible subsidies
· taxes

Viability
depends on:
· profitability
compatibility with
· farming, transport system
· other operations of post-production system
· production level

labour
· family
· contract (day, seasonal)
· fixed employment

balance in
· overhead cost
· management time
· capital expenditure vs operating cost

private-sector response
· competitors create barriers for new entrants
· decreased/increased supply, price of (farm) products,

risks
· length of period before achieving break-even
· point
· delays in: delivery, production operations, payment

Marketability of the final product
depends on:
· consumer preferences (food habits)
· continuity of supply
· promotion and distribution
· selection of suitable types of market, (rural, urban, international)

5 Appropriateness of Public Policies

Question:
Is/are there any:

FARM LEVEL and OFF-FARM LEVEL

National policies, strategies, measures
· price stabilisation measures, price guarantees, minimum price
· public distribution or subsidised food system, ration system for selected groups
· import/export restrictions
· market regulations
· restrictions on grain movements
· fixed margins for wholesalers/handlers
· state monopolies for storage, handling, processing.
· guidelines for quality, protection of health, inspection
· export trade promotion, information services
· subsidised inputs, credit
· infrastructure planned, implemented (electrification, irrigation, roads, ports)
· tax incentives
· promotion of indigenous crops
· research and extension

Existence and tasks of government/semi-government, collective institutions
· multi-functional (buying, selling, storing, processing)
government agency
· mainly marketing organisation: government
· co-operative or group-based system
· collectively run institutions e.g.: cereal banks
processing plants
mills
· mechanism of coordination between agencies, division of responsibilities

Functioning of these organisations
· payment: discontinued, delayed, too high/low
· buying agent on fixed salary or commission
· services provision (storage, extension etc.) adequate/good
· accountable management
· transparent procedures
· group rights encouraging cohesion, e.g. voting