APIP Agricultural Policy Implementation Project

The following solutions were offered to improve the sector's performance:
* Training for staff, technicians, and advisors;
• Laboratory to help producers improve products for export;
* Bulk transportation, as small volume shipments are too costly; and
* Creation of a flower growers association.
Several participants voiced an urgent need to form an association of flower
producers/exporters. Whether the association should be publically-sponsored or
remain private was an issue, but consensus seemed to favor a private sector group
not associated with government organizations. All agreed that an association
should serve to resolve problems in the flower sector and call together
producers/exporters as necessary. The idea of an association pleased representatives
from customs and the plant inspection service, because dealing with a group
saves time. One grower voiced reservations about an association, predicting
problems between producers and sellers. The Abt team pointed out that Colombia
has a strong association, which has 200 members including three brand name
growers, without such problems. At the conclusion of the roundtable, cut flower
producers agree to form a federation of producers and exporters, and one grower
suggested that a lawyer draw up the charter for the new federation.