SIMPLE PROCESSING OF FARM PRODUCES - METH ODS FOR FEASIBILITY EVALUATION

Post-harvest problems are important constraints to the expansion of pr oduction of food in many Latin American countries. Besides problems of bulkiness, perishability and seasonal production patterns, the necess ity of reducing transportation costs, increasing rural employment, and finding new markets for processed products, requires the development of processing technologies. Possible processed products include a vast range of alternatives. Given limited time and resources, it is not al ways feasible to carry out detailed studies. Hence a practical, low-co st methodology is needed to evaluate the available options. This paper presents a series of methods to evaluate different processing posibil ities. It describes in detail each method including a rapid initial as sessment, market and consumer research, farm-oriented research, costs and returns analysis and finally, some marketing and promotion strateg ies.