|
The Scenario
A competitive global environment
The global economic environment is evolving with the general adoption of increasingly liberalised trade regimes. Penetration by the market economy into formerly isolated and rural areas, while opening up opportunities for new crops and value-added products, threatens the food security and livelihoods of the rural poor who increasingly face competition and market volatility. Also, concentration and consolidation at the buyer and supplier level, and the stringent safety and quality requirements of consumers, further compound the problem.
Dwindling governmental support
National governments in many countries guide post-harvest development through policies and regulations but no longer deliver any services to this sector.
Limited trained human resources
Small rural enterprises and communities lack expertise in post-harvest handling, processing, and marketing. Neglecting their training requirements deprives them of the skills required for them to exploit market opportunities.
Inefficiency within the sector
Weak organisational linkages within the sector, the inadequacy of basic infrastructure (water, power, road and port facilities) and post-harvest infrastructure (refrigerated units, packaging facilities, storage units), coupled with inadequate resources for research and development, contribute to low efficiency and high losses
^ back to top ^
The Strategic Framework for the GPhI
To address these challenges, a new strategic framework has been developed jointly by FAO, PhAction, GFAR in association with a broad range of stakeholders.
The Strategic Framework for the GPhI provides an innovative market-orientated approach to post-harvest development offering:
- an innovative platform for a supply chain approach to post-harvest development
- a market-orientated approach to addressing post-harvest production problems
- participation of stakeholders in the development and implementation of the initiative at the lowest most effective level (i.e. local, regional, global)
The Framework is based on four strategies. Within each strategy are concept notes that serve as a basis for the development of collaborative action-orientated projects (more details on the Strategies)
^ back to top ^
Focus of the Plan
The Plan promotes the efficient, equitable and sustainable development of post-harvest components of the supply chain and allows for wide-ranging interventions that can meet the needs of diverse situations in the post-harvest sector. In so doing, it seeks to improve the livelihoods of producers and consumers by enhancing agri-food systems for a range of local, national, regional and international markets.
^ back to top ^
Target beneficiaries
The Framework focuses on the poor. In many cases this will be the rural poor, from subsistence through to commercial small-holder producers, handlers, labourers and also the agri-food, micro and SME sector. The urban poor may also benefit through increased food availability, access to food of higher quality and through their participation in urban components of agri-food systems.
^ back to top ^
Implementing the GPhI Strategic Framework
One of the first steps and objectives for the implementation of the "Strategic Framework for a Global Post-harvest Initiative-Linking Farmers to Markets" is to build on strong regional and sub-regional axes. Networks of institutions, programmes and projects, both new and existing, will be essential in creating synergies during the implementation process for this initiative. New partnerships will be created across disciplinary and organisational divides at all levels which will contribute to improve communication and the exchange of ideas and information within and across regions.
For this reason the GPhI is now entering a new phase in which the Initiative will be brought back to the regions where all necessary activities will be carried out in order to ensure its implementation at the lowest most effective level.
^ back to top ^
More Information
- Download the full Brochure on the Strategic Framework
- Full Report on the APAARI Expert Consultation on Post Harvest technology, December 2004
- Full Report on the AARINENA Global Post-harvest Initiative Planning Meeting, Turkey, April 2005
- Full Report on the October 2003 International workshop
- Synthesis Report on the 2001-2002 Regional Priority Setting on the of the Post harvest systems
^ back to top ^
|
