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TRAINING IN POSTHARVEST TECHNOLOGY Extension Systems International P.O. Box 3130 Quartzsite, Arizona 85359 USA Phone: (916) 708 7218 E-mail Us PostHarvest Training of Trainers COMMODITY SYSTEMS ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY (CSAM) CSAM Manual (LaGra 1990) Training in CSAM CSAM is a systematic method of collecting information on causes and sources of postharvest losses and quality problems. CSAM Manual Table of Contents Acknowledgments Foreword Chapter 1 - Purpose and origin of this manual Pitfalls of problem identification Application of this manual Origin of the methodology An interinstitutional effort Chapter 2 - Introduction to food systems Multi-disciplinary nature of the food system Interdependence of the components of a food system Participants in a commodity system Causes of food losses Facilitating services Food security: another dimension Chapter 3 - Priority components for problem analysis Relative importance of crop - component 01 Public sector policies - component 02 Relevant institutions - component 03 Facilitating services - component 04 Farmer organizations - component 05 Environmental requirements and constraints - component 06 Availability of seeds and other genetic materials - component 07 Farmers' cultural practices - component 08 Pests and diseases - component 09 Pre-harvest treatments - component 10 Production and marketing costs - component 11 Crop harvest - component 12 Selection, sizing, grading, and inspection - component 13 Postharvest chemical and physical treatment - component 14 Packaging - component 15 Cooling - component 16 Storage - component 17 Transport - component 18 Delays or waiting - component 19 Other operations - component 20 Agro-processing - component 21 Marketing intermediaries - component 22 Market information - component 23 Consumer demand - component 24 Exports - component 25 Postharvest and marketing costs - component 26 Chapter 4 - Application of the commodity systems assessment methodology Formation of an Interdisciplinary Team Preproduction Production Postharvest Marketing and distribution Chapter 5 - Identifying solutions to problems Problem analysis Brainstorming for problems Problem checklist Problem tree diagram Objectives analysis Analysis of strategy alternatives and project identification Participant analysis Summary of project identification Criteria for establishing priorities Project profiles General observations on the use of CSAM and project profiles Chapter 6 - Organizing a workshop Coordinating Committee Expected outputs Institutional support Baseline documents Resource persons Selection of participants Development of workshop agenda Conducting the workshop Collection of missing information Checklist for organizing a workshop References Annexes Annex 1 - Example questionnaires for commodity system components Component 01 - Relative importance of crop Component 02 - Public sector policies Component 03 - Relevant institutions Component 04 - Facilitating services Component 05 - Farmer organizations Component 06 - Environmental requirements and constraints Component 07 - Availability of seeds and planting materials Component 08 - Farmers' cultural practices Component 09 - Pests and diseases Component 10 – Pre-harvest treatments Component 11 - Production and marketing costs Component 12 - Crop harvest Component 13-A - Selection Component 13-B - Sizing and grading Component 13-C - Inspection Component 14 - Postharvest chemical and physical treatments Component 15 - Packaging Component 16 - Cooling Component 17 - Storage Component 18 - Transport Component 19 - Delays or waiting Component 20 - Other operations Component 21 – Agro-processing Component 22 - Marketing intermediaries Component 23 - Market information Component 24 - Consumer demand Component 25 - Exports Component 26 - Postharvest and marketing costs What is the cost? There is no charge for mentoring services. Just send an e-mail or mail a letter to Dr. Lisa, and she will do her best to answer your question or point you in the right direction. Many training materials are available via e-mail at no charge. A CDRom packed full of practical training materials, including the CSAM Manual in English, is available at a small fee (to cover the cost of copying, postage and packaging materials). Training CD Rom ***** TRAINING IN POSTHARVEST TECHNOLOGY ***** Copyright 2002 Cooperative Ventures, USA