Focus on . . . Crop Processing and Marketing
In this edition we focus on a few of the varied aspects of crop processing and marketing. Food processing is a major source of income and employment for millions of rural and urban people. Traditional processing technologies can enhance the nutritional value of food, allow it to be stored for longer and add value for income generation. However, for these and/or more novel products to compete successfully in liberalized markets, improvements in existing technologies and quality control procedures are often required.
Inspiration and determination are just two of the strengths of the many people involved in processing and marketing of crops, highlighted in the following articles.
Going for the gap: making the most of market opportunities
Liberalization offers greater opportunities for agricultural producers to market their products. But liberalization and changes in world trade regulations may also remove protection and support, leaving producers exposed to . . .
Entrepreneurial extraction: making the juices flow
Inspiration, support and organization are the behind tales of "success with surplus" in Malawi, Mauritius and Tanzania. A juice drink is proving popular in Malawi and is providing an alternative . . .
Fermentation - always on the bubble
From a hole in the ground to the most sophisticated, computer-controlled 'space-age' technology, fermentation has been one of mankind's greatest natural discoveries - akin to fire. No less important now . . .
The perishability of cassava and the potential toxicity, due to the presence of cyanogenic glucosides in many varieties, makes processing of this crop essential. A wide variety of processing techniques have traditionally . . .
More impressive even than the mouth-tingling flavour of sun-dried fruit is the satisfaction radiating from the faces of farmers who bring sacks of top-grade dried bananas, pineapple and mangoes . . .
There can be few aspects of agriculture to which so many people are instinctively attracted. Organic agriculture - producing food and fibre in harmony with the environment - appeals to consumers and . . .
It may seem obvious but the first step towards a successful oilseed processing business is to sit down... and think hard about whether the investment will pay off. Development organizations, keen to . . .
Tropical starches: a grainy issue
Tropical starches: a grainy issue Tropical starches have served as traditional staple crops for people throughout the world's hot and humid regions and yet, until recently, the potential for value-addition . . .
Export potential or exploitation?
Farmers on Negros island in the Philippines are being encouraged to adopt a more balanced approach to farming after hard lessons were learned by both farmers and traders involved in the . . .
