Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
3.3.3 Production
Indigenous fruit trees need to be assessed for use in crop diversification
research programmes, as these satisfy not only the need of small farmers but
also of commercial enterprises for diversified products. The inclusion of
indigenous fruit trees in production systems reduces the risks inherent to
monocultures of staple food crops, such as susceptibility to pests and diseases,
soil nutrient depletion, price fluctuations, and reliance on a single crop for
income. Hughes and Haq (2003) pointed out that income from underutilized
fruit trees in China, Nepal and the Philippines is much higher than from
traditional agricultural crops. Furthermore, high cropping intensity risks soil
degradation, with an associated reduced production. The development of land-
use systems where the soils are managed effectively is an important goal of
sustainable agricultural systems. Management schemes need to take account of
changes in crop spacing, use of water shading and variation in yield when
combinations of crops are grown in mixed systems. This can only be developed
with further trials on systems which combine some or all of the following
elements: domestic crops, cash crops, and presently underutilized indigenous
fruits.
It has to be recognized that the promotion of particular high-yielding strains
is likely to bring about changes. For instance, market forces will provide rapid
incentives for higher production and the need for new cultivars and, as a
consequence, the maintenance of traditional agriculture incorporating
underutilized crops may suffer. However, a small swing towards traditional
mixed cropping involving indigenous fruits has been noted, and this may
increase in the future when more domestication of indigenous fruits occurs.
3.3.4 Marketing research
Key points in the development of indigenous fruit marketing research include:
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Analysis of the marketing environment.
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Size of the potential market.
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Competitive analysis.
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Consumer attitudes towards processed products.
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Attractiveness of processed products to consumers.
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Distribution of processed products.
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Potential viability of agroprocessing ventures.
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Marketing mix development.
Leakey and Izac (1996) suggested that there is a need for simultaneous work
on domestication and commercialization for the development of indigenous
fruits.
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