Pro-Poor Value Chain Development - Capacity.org

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BOAM’s engagement in the fruit value chains
The BOAM intervention was mainly concentrated in SPNNRS, particularly Arbaminch
area and Chuko and Dara woredas 1 .
Box A4.1 Overview of BOAM fruit value chains
Pineapple value chain
(2005 – 2011)
Highland Fruits
(mainly apple) value chain
(2007-2011)
Mango value chain
(2007-2011)
Chuko and Dara woredas in Sidama zone
Chencha and other 7 highland fruit growing
woredas near Arbaminch, Hula, Bule & Ezha
woredas
Arbaminch Zuria woreda, Mirab Abaya woreda
and 8 woredas in Wollaita
Four broad categories of interventions can be distinguished:
1. Sector development
2. Business development
3. Knowledge development and learning
4. Service provider development
Sector development
The sector development component aimed to strengthen the sector as a whole and
included interventions that served the interests of all actors involved in the value
chain. In the case of the fruit chains the following sector development instruments
were most relevant.
1. Facilitating the establishment of Multi-Stakeholder Platforms
2. Generating and disseminating Market Intelligence
3. Promoting Appropriate Technology
Facilitating the establishment of Multi-Stakeholder Platforms
For each of the three fruit value chains (mango, apple and pineapple) BOAM
facilitated the establishment of a multi-stakeholder forum known as a Coordination
Group (CG). The CGs provided a platform where public and private stakeholders
could meet on a regular basis to discuss how to further develop the chain. The CGs
were instrumental in establishing new partnerships, sharing market intelligence and
disseminating technical knowledge on issues such as improved husbandry practices
and disease management.
One of the first activities undertaken by each of the Coordination Groups was to
develop a Strategic Intervention Plan (SIP). Initially, the focus of each plan was
quite different. The SIP for pineapples contained a very broad range of interventions.
The mango and highland fruit value chains adopted a two-pronged approach that
simultaneously addressed the provision of quality planting material and services to
producers, and the strengthening of farmers’ organisations and linking them to other
actors in the chain. Over time, as the SIPs were gradually revised and improved,
there was more convergence in the approach taken. The most recent SIPs are
characterised by three main types of intervention:
• Establishing market arrangements between wholesale traders or processors and
farmers’ organisations;
• Improving the quality of supplies for fresh fruit consumption and processing;
• Expanding into new market segments and products.
1 A woreda is a local administrative unit that is equivalent to a district