Agroindustrial project analysi

88 AGROINDUSTRIAL PROJECT ANALYSIShours, by quick application of precooling, and by avoiding delaysbefore shipment. Damage may occur during harvesting, grading,cleaning, washing, transporting, packing and unpacking, and salein market. In addition to labor-intensive benefits to the project,use of labor rather than machines at appropriate stages of operationcan avoid some of this damage. In-transit damage can also beminimized: the injuries that occurred in peaches hauled 100 mileson a truck with leaf suspension were reduced in a shipment ofpeaches hauled the same distance on a truck with air-ride suspension."5 Wilting can be minimized in leafy products by shorteningthe time between harvest and shipment and by monitoring temperatureand humidity in storage.STORAGE. Product losses because of poor storage facilities werediscussed in the section on "Adequate Quantity," above. Defectiveor insufficient storage can also affect the quality of the product remainingafter losses from excessive humidity or heat or insectdamage. Certain produce may need refrigerated storage to reduceperishability. Deterioration in nutritional quality can also occurduring storage, and this will be discussed in the section "InventoryManagement" in the next chapter (see also tables 4-7 and 4-8).Examination of the quality of the raw material, transport,handling, and storage should lead the analyst next to considermeasures of quality control.Quality controlIn addition to providing the farmer with improved inputs to increaseyield, the processor should also consider providing inputs toimprove quality, such as better seeds. To ensure that the inputs areused properly, the firm may again need to offer technical assistanceand training and may also wish to consider providing farmers withsuch physical facilities as warehouses and dryers. The costs ofthese measures should be compared against the economic benefitsfrom prices for improved quality.At a minimum, the plant should provide suppliers with a clear idea15. M. O'Brien and R. F. Kasmire, "Engineering Developments and Problemsat Production Source of Fresh Produce," ASAE Transactions, vol. 15(1972), p. 566.