THE SCIENTIFIC Research Council (SRC) is currently implementing a food processing project to strengthen the operations of micro, small and medium-sized agro- processors in rural Jamaica.This project is expected to assist 25 enterprises that are involved in the making of tamarind balls, bammies, banana chips, coconut water, 'busta' sweets, herbs and spices, fruit juices, and canned ackee.
Described as the "application of science and technology for the strengthening of micro, small and medium food processing enterprise in the rural areas of Latin America and the Caribbean", the project provides training in quality, environmental and business management.
Manager of Project and Quality Management Systems at the SRC, Marica Henry, explained to JIS News that Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, the Dominican Repub-lican, along with seven countries from Central and South America, are participating in the project.
The Food Technical Institute of Costa Rica was the regional co-ordinator, while the SRC was the local co-ordinator. Funds came from the Organisation of American States (OAS).
The project began in 2002 when representatives from the SRC and the Rural Agricultural Develop-ment Authority (RADA) were trained in Costa Rica. Represen-tatives from the 25 local companies were trained between April and July 2003.
Other than being rural based, companies have to be involved in food processing, be micro enterprises employing less than five persons; small, employing less than 50 persons, or medium, with less than 100 employees. Addition-ally, they had to be registered with the Bureau of Standards or the Registrar of Companies, and had to be willing to train persons from other enterprises in the future.
Mrs. Henry said the training addressed quality management, in light of new rules governing local and international trading regimes, as well as the importance of food safety and good manufacturing practices.
The environmental management component focused on cleaner production, minimising waste and maximising raw materials.
The Jamaica Business Develop-ment Centre (JBDC) conducted the business management segment, which involved developing vision and mission statements, elements of leadership and group dynamics, strategic planning, operations management, product costing, marketing and distribution methods.
STRENGTHEN AND DEVELOP
During September and Novem-ber 2003, a work programme, outlining the areas in which each company needed to be strengthened, was developed. This programme will be implemented in 2004 with the help of rural leaders. Training was conducted within St. Thomas, St. Ann and Manchester.
Mrs. Henry commended CAN-CO Limited, Southern Fruits and Foods Limited, and Walkers-wood Caribbean Foods Limited, from each cluster, for volunteering to be rural leaders. She said this was commendable as companies tended to be protective of information. There are indicators to measure the success of the programme.
"Each company will have documented operating procedures that ensure food safety, current accoun-ting systems, mission and vision statements, and a documented system of how to minimise waste generated and maximise the use of raw materials. These are significant achievements for rural based companies," Mrs. Henry said.
She is confident that successful implementation of these works will give these companies the basic framework to compete internationally.
