Articles
Innovative approach to production and marketing in the Pacific
Article number
1129_3
Pages
19 – 26
Language
English
Abstract
In Fiji and the Solomon Islands, smallholder vegetable producers face constraints in production and marketing in meeting the requirements of institutional buyers such as resorts and universities.
There are issues along the entire value chain relating to inadequate quality, consistency and reliability, which together with low volume, impede access to these high value markets.
Long established arrangements, purportedly connected to rent-seeking behaviours, involving commission agents and largeholder producers provide formidable barriers to entry.
Recently, establishment of groups following Participant Guarantee System (PGS) quality protocols have successfully addressed these issues and the issue of sustainability.
PGS groups are beginning to make inroads into higher value supply agreements between buyers and sellers.
The model is operating with the differing styles of farmers of Fijian and Indian background and promises replicability in other Pacific Island Countries.
However, the conventional farmers’ group model has often been found to be unsustainable, collapsing after donor support is removed.
Moreover, often massive support was needed to keep the groups operating during the donor sponsoring period.
Despite this, the same old model continues to be designed into projects throughout the developing world.
It is the contention of this paper that most of these groups are doomed to failure and that a new model is needed.
The model proposed is the PGS as adapted by the authors.
There are issues along the entire value chain relating to inadequate quality, consistency and reliability, which together with low volume, impede access to these high value markets.
Long established arrangements, purportedly connected to rent-seeking behaviours, involving commission agents and largeholder producers provide formidable barriers to entry.
Recently, establishment of groups following Participant Guarantee System (PGS) quality protocols have successfully addressed these issues and the issue of sustainability.
PGS groups are beginning to make inroads into higher value supply agreements between buyers and sellers.
The model is operating with the differing styles of farmers of Fijian and Indian background and promises replicability in other Pacific Island Countries.
However, the conventional farmers’ group model has often been found to be unsustainable, collapsing after donor support is removed.
Moreover, often massive support was needed to keep the groups operating during the donor sponsoring period.
Despite this, the same old model continues to be designed into projects throughout the developing world.
It is the contention of this paper that most of these groups are doomed to failure and that a new model is needed.
The model proposed is the PGS as adapted by the authors.
Authors
R. Erskine-Smith, G. Vinning, A. Sale
Keywords
quality assurance, reliability, consistency, sustainability, commitment
Online Articles (19)