Annex 11 - Checklist of potential problems in a commodity system

Commodity: __________________ Indicate whether the analysis is being undertaken on a: ( ) national; ( ) regional; or ( ) local basis.

NATURE OF PROBLEM		IF PROBLEM AREA INDICATE WITH (X)	DESCRIBE HOW PROBLEM AFFECTS QUANTITY, QUALITY, PRICE, OR AVAILABILITY OF PRODUCT
Pre-Production Considerations Agricultural Sector Policies:
- institutional organization		( )
- salaries, urban or rural		( )
- taxes: import or export		( )
- price policies		( )
- credit policies		( )
- land reform policies		( )
- natural resource management		( )
- irrigation policies		( )
- production and distribution of planting material		( )
- farm input supply		( )
- technology		( )
- farmer organization		( )
- marketing policies		( )
- agro-processing policies		( )
- import policies		( )
- export policies		( )
- incentives:		( )
	. tax	( )
	. financial	( )
	. other_____	( )
Public Sector Institutions (identify institutions):
- political instability		( )
- leadership		( )
- deficient planning		( )
- management skills		( )
- insufficient staff		( )
- poor quality staff		( )
- staff motivation		( )
- deficient equipment		( )
- lack of operating capital		( )
- weak services:		( )
	. information	( )
	. credit	( )
	. research	( )
	. extension	( )
	. training	( )
	. technical assistance	( )
	. product standards	( )
	. coordination	( )
	. others____	( )
Private Sector Organizations (farmers, intermediaries, exporters, others):
- legal structure		( )
- public sector control		( )
- leadership unclear role & functions		( )
- small active membership		( )
- low level member commitment		( )
- members widely scattered		( )
- communication		( )
- lack of resources		( )
- management skills		( )
- insufficient staff		( )
- staff skills		( )
- staff motivation		( )
- job description or terms of reference		( )
- poor planning		( )
- decision-making		( )
- poor follow-through		( )
- monitoring of staff		( )
- financial management		( )
- communication		( )
- marketing policy		( )
- pricing policy		( )
- filing system		( )
- office space		( )
- inadequate equipment		( )
- inadequate materials		( )
- information deficiencies:		( )
	. supply of produce	( )
	. markets	( )
	. prices	( )
	. farm input supply	( )
	. credit alternatives	( )
	. production packages	( )
	. proper postharvest handling of produce	( )
	. communication with members	( )
- others____		( )
Ecological Conditions which Negatively Affect the Commodity:
- latitude/sunlight		( )
- altitude		( )
- soil		( )
- rainfall		( )
- wind		( )
- temperature		( )
- relative humidity		( )
- other____		( )
Infrastructure/Equipment Limitations:
- roads non-existent		( )
- roads in poor condition		( )
- irrigation systems		( )
- storage facilities		( )
- marketplaces		( )
- packing houses		( )
- packing equipment		( )
- packaging materials		( )
- airports		( )
- sea ports		( )
- tractors or other equipment		( )
- others____		( )
Planting Material:
- deficient infrastructure		( )
- lack of proper equipment		( )
- lack of technical know-how		( )
- unavailability to farmers		( )
- poor quality plants		( )
- others____		( )
Problem Characteristics Inherent to Crop:
- seasonality		( )
- height of plant/tree		( )
- other growth characteristics		( )
- susceptible to pests/diseases		( )
- short shelflife of product		( )
- poor storage capabilities		( )
- color		( )
- flavor		( )
- size		( )
- shape		( )
- quantity of fruit set		( )
- others____		( )
Production Related Problem Areas:
- climatic constraints		( )
- soil constraints		( )
- land constraints		( )
- water related deficiencies:		( )
	. too little water	( )
	. too much water	( )
	. inadequate irrigation systems	( )
	. poor water management	( )
- seeds/planting material:		( )
	. unavailable	( )
	. poor quality	( )
	. expensive	( )
- credit:		( )
	. unavailable	( )
	. difficult to access	( )
- farm inputs:		( )
	. unavailable	( )
	. poor quality	( )
	. high costs	( )
- lack of technical know-how with respect to:		( )
	. farm management	( )
	. integrated pest management	( )
	. crop establishment	( )
	. crop maintenance	( )
	. pruning	( )
	. training	( )
	. spraying	( )
	. weeding	( )
	. fertilization	( )
	. pollination process	( )
	. water management	( )
	. large scale cultivation	( )
	. other____	( )
- labor:		( )
	. unavailable	( )
	. inefficient	( )
	. high cost	( )
- actual farming system:		( )
	. limits yields	( )
	. affects crop quality	( )
- pests/diseases:		( )
	. effect on marketability	( )
	. lack of control method	( )
	. excess use of chemicals	( )
	. requirement of too much labor	( )
	. expense of control	( )
- high costs/production		( )
- others____		( )
Harvest Related Problem Areas:
- larceny		( )
- stage of maturity unknown		( )
- lack of technical know-how		( )
- inadequate tools/equipment		( )
- poor harvesting practices		( )
- labor:		( )
	. unavailable	( )
	. poorly skilled	( )
	. high costs	( )
- height of trees		( )
- closed canopy		( )
- other____		( )
Postharvest Handling Problems:
- rough on-farm handling		( )
- poor field containers		( )
- poor in-field sanitation		( )
- scarce labor		( )
- poorly trained labor		( )
- lack of shade		( )
- improper stacking		( )
- rough loading/unloading		( )
- on-farm transport		( )
- delays at ports		( )
- poor roads		( )
- chemical treatments		( )
- washing		( )
- cleaning		( )
- sizing		( )
- grading		( )
- precooling		( )
- packaging:		( )
	. unavailable	( )
	. insufficient strength	( )
	. high cost	( )
	. poor packing facilities	( )
	. quality/weight controls	( )
	. improper labeling	( )
- quality control		( )
- wrong temperature		( )
- wrong humidity		( )
- lack of technical know-how		( )
- high costs of handling		( )
- lack of infrastructure		( )
- other____		( )
Agro-Processing Limitations:
- raw material:		( )
	. small volumes available	( )
	. lack of continuous supply	( )
	. poor quality	( )
	. high costs	( )
- imported inputs (jars, etc)		( )
- lack of facilities		( )
- deficient or outdated equipment		( )
- poor product development		( )
- high production costs		( )
- low quality output		( )
- lack of technical assistance		( )
- lack of operating capital		( )
- lack of market development		( )
- other____		( )
Markets and Marketing Problems:
- markets:		( )
	. lack of market development or promotion	( )
	. small and/or specialized market niche	( )
	. limited to particular time of year	( )
	. quarantine restrictions	( )
	. other restrictions or trade barriers	( )
	. taxes, duties, etc.	( )
	. strong competition	( )
	. controlled by interest groups	( )
	. local/regional politics	( )
	. difficulty in obtaining payment	( )
	. other____	( )
- product:		( )
	. lack of product development	( )
	. quality poor	( )
	. volumes small	( )
	. prices too high	( )
	. lack continuous supply	( )
	. collection system	( )
	. lack of quality control	( )
	. other____	( )
- transportation:		( )
	. unavailable	( )
	. irregular	( )
	. limited space	( )
	. freight costs too high	( )
	. insurance expensive	( )
	. other____	( )
- information:		( )
	. supply statistics	( )
	. market intelligence	( )
	. poor analysis	( )
	. other____	( )
- technical assistance		( )
- means of verification unavailable in importing country		( )
- difficult collection of payments		( )
- delays with documentation		( )
- port facilities poor		( )
- other____		( )
Pricing and Consumer Demand Problems:
- imports sold at lower price than domestic supply		( )
- irregular supplies to meet consumer demand		( )
- high costs to consumers		( )
- consumers lack familiarity with product		( )
- product poorly presented		( )
- characteristics of consumer demand unknown		( )
- other____		( )

NOTE: There are approximately 250 potential problems listed here which can impact upon the quantity of product produced or its quality, price or availability. Due to the participants' lack of experience it may be difficult for them to understand how some of the potential problems listed above may impact the product. A useful classroom exercise is to dedicate approximately two hours going through the list as a group effort. Participants and Instructors alike can make suggestions as to how a certain "potential problem" may impact the product. This is a good way to stimulate group discussion and to transfer experiences between the different participants.