Agro Processing Strategy

8i n d u s t r y sec t o r strategyThe following was excerpted fromthe Vision 2030 Sector Plan forManufacturing:Other studies, for exampleWint and Shirley (1995) whichindicated that the main challengesto the competitiveness of themanufacturing sector includedlow worker productivity, high costof capital, obsolete technology,high operating costs includingutilities, and inadequaciesin supporting infrastructureand bureaucratic systems.More recently Hussey (2002)concluded that the main issuesaffecting labour productivityin Jamaica included a lack ofnational focus on productivity,lack of adequate managementand measurement systems andprocesses, high cost of capital,and education and skill levels ofthe workforce.One of the key issues for thelong-term competitiveness of themanufacturing sector is the needto improve productivity, includingthrough the following measures:• Increased investmentin training of staff andestablishment of appropriateproduction and marketingincentives schemes• Adoption of modernproduction technology andmanagement practices• Retooling and equipmentupgrading• Access to available sources oftechnical assistance• Increased capacity utilisationthrough additional productionshifts• Increased application ofresearch and development tomanufacturing processesIn summary, the sector needs to addressseveral issues of competitiveness in orderto achieve its vision, as well as become achampion export sector globally.The industry’s Value Chain– An Illustration and analysisThe following may be noted about thefood products value chain:• The main component is theprocessor, who is considered asthe driving element of the valuechain. The packaging sector is veryimportant, and so too are the growersas these groups impact the quality ofthe processors’ end product.