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KEY QUESTIONS ON SUITABILITY OF LOCATIONS FOR SMALLHOLDER
PRODUCTION
| 1. |
Can the expected yields and quality of production be achieved in the
proposed location?
Considerations |
| 2. |
Is there sufficient under-utilized land and water for producing the
required quantities of crop without jeopardizing other economic activities?
Considerations |
| 3. |
Is access to the area feasible throughout the growing season, for
supplying inputs, servicing farmers and collecting their crops?
Considerations |
| 4. |
Does the state of the infrastructure in the area (roads, electricity,
water supply, telecommunications, markets, storage etc) allow sustained
and co-ordinated production of perishable commodities?
Considerations |
| 5. |
Are there enough smallholders in the area with the interest and resources
needed for producing the amount of crop required, in addition to their
other economic activities?
Considerations |
| 6. |
Are the smallholders well organized in some kind of producer association
or co-operative through which they can work together in the project?
Considerations |
| 7. |
Do the smallholders have alternative income-earning opportunities,
in addition to the horticultural crop or crops which the exporter
is interested in?
Considerations |
Related
Information:
Case studies show the effects of both suitable
and unsuitable locations.
CONSIDERATIONS
| 1. |
Can the expected yields and quality of production
be achieved in the proposed location?
Considerations
If the area has unsuitable soils, terrain, climate or water availability,
it is obviously not an appropriate choice. |
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| 2. |
Is there sufficient under-utilized land and water
for producing the required quantities of crop without jeopardizing
other economic activities?
Considerations
If
the crop can only be produced by taking away land normally used for
food production or other essential economic activities, the supply
is unlikely to be reliable. |
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| 3. |
Is access to the area feasible throughout the
growing season, for supplying inputs, servicing farmers and collecting
their crops?
Considerations
If the area is very far from the servicing and marketing centre,
or if the access roads are impassable in the rainy season, the area
is unlikely to be suitable |
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| 4. |
Does the state of the infrastructure in the area
(roads, electricity, water supply, telecommunications, markets, storage
etc) allow sustained and co-ordinated production of perishable commodities?
Considerations
Areas which lack good communications, power supplies, irrigation
potential, storage facilities etc are difficult to develop as reliable
sources of raw materials. |
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| 5. |
Are there enough smallholders in the area with
the interest and resources needed for producing the amount of crop
required, in addition to their other economic activities?
Considerations
If few smallholders have the necessary resources, or if they need
to be given strong incentives to persuade them to participate, production
is less likely to be sustained than in places where smallholders are
clamouring for the opportunity to grow the crop. |
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| 6. |
Are the smallholders well organized in some kind
of producer association or co-operative through which they can work
together in the project?
Considerations
Servicing, communication and negotiation between growers and buyers
is easier where the smallholders are unified and have a recognized
leadership structure, than where they work as isolated individuals
in a divided community. |
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| 7. |
Do
the smallholders have alternative income-earning opportunities, in
addition to the horticultural crop or crops which the exporter is
interested in?
Considerations
If the proposed crops form only one of several income-earning opportunities
that are open to smallholders in an area, it may be difficult to retain
their loyalty and ensure a continuing supply to a particular buyer.
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