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Project Record
Improved livelihoods through the development of small-scale fruit processing enterprises in Asia
Start Date: 01/10/2003
End Date: 30/01/2006
R Number: R8399
DFID Programme: Forestry
Funding Department: Central Research Department
Related Documents: View Related Documents
Managing Institute: Natural Resources International Limited (NRIL)
Lead Institute: University of Southampton
Collaborating Institutes: Resource Centres and NGO Women's Group, BAIF Development Research Foundation; Centre for Mass Education in Science, Bangladesh; Database and Market Information, Asian Centre for Underutilised Crops (ACUC); Market Research & Resource Centre of Communes (Hanoi); Market Research & Resource Centres (Kathmandu)
Regions: Asia, South-Eastern Asia, Southern Asia
Countries: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Viet Nam
Objectives:
To apply new knowledge to problems in forest and tree resource management, the resolution of which benefits forest and tree dependent poor people in the Forest/Agriculture Interface.
Background:
Indigenous fruit trees are important multi-purpose species for Asian smallholders to supplement and improve the quality of diets and provide fodder, fuel, timber and medicines to the poorest of the poor. The utilisation and marketing of indigenous fruits is inefficient due to a combination of social, economic and technological factors. Specific project objectives are to adopt improved post-harvest methodologies and marketing strategies through training and access to market intelligence through identification of market opportunities and market linkages; transferring improved technology for product development; and assisting stakeholders in the development of market strategies. Initially, the livelihoods of 1,875 primary beneficiaries will be improved by enabling them to enter a market economy through new and improved commodity chains.Intended Outputs:
Improvement of post-harvest technologies and practices.Technology transfer of post-harvest technologies and practices.
Community capacity building in enterprise development.
Progress and Impact:
· Sites for Resource Centres were identified and 15 Resource Centres have been established (3 in each country).· Action plans for resource centres were drawn up.
· Appropriate training tools were produced.
· 95 field trainers were trained.
· 739 beneficiaries were trained so far through pilot project.
· 8 products (pickles, juice, jam/jelly, candy, paste, leather, pulp in syrup, ice cream) were produced from Jackfruit, Tamarind, Ber, Amla, Annona, Bael and Lapsi.
· Market research has been completed in all countries except Sri Lanka as this was not possible in one site in Galle because of Tsunami.
· Database is developed and dissemination of information of products and marketing is in progress.
· Preliminary discussion with other players involved with the development projects in these countries was held.
Total Cost to DFID:
£266,775
Aries Code: 112681
MIS Number: 781644002
Associated References:
R7187