WHICH SERVICES ARE NEEDED?

Efficient production requires that smallholders have:

Information about the needs of the exporter: when it requires the product; what chemicals are (are not) permitted; and what standards are required;
Access to technical information and training to enable smallholders to adopt optimal production techniques, and
Access to seeds, fertilisers, agro-chemicals, equipment and the finance needed to obtain these resources.

Farmers have difficulty in obtaining these services individually as they lack information, credit and are often dispersed geographically. Any exporter should check carefully that arrangements for a minimum level of services are in place, including the provision of credit: research, training and extension; agrochemicals, fertilizers and seeds; crop storage, purchasing and transportation.The exporter itself is often the best source of these services, but they can also be provided by agro-chemical supply companies, co-operatives, NGOs and other institutions.