The use of needs assessment methodologies to focus technical interventions in root and tuber crop post-harvest systems: a case study to improve the marketing and post-harvest handling of cassava entering Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

摘要

The accurate targeting of research and technology transfer strategies within root and tuber crops post-harvest systems is essential to ensure that developmental funds within national programmes are used to maximum advantage. Needs assessment studies have important roles to play in initially defining problem areas. Such procedures must be cost effective and generate genuine information quickly and efficiently. This paper describes the use of an urban demand/needs assessment strategy to define the problems evident in the marketing of fresh cassava roots in Oar es Salaam, Tanzania. By examining secondary data and collecting primary information from key participants in the marketing chain, the principal constraints and sources of cassava wastage within the system were identified as were opportunities for possible technical interventions. As a result of these assessments, a more detailed case study was undertaken to quantify the losses of cassava within the system and, thereafter, an adaptive technology transfer programme was initiated to test, adapt and later disseminate elements of the low cost ambient storage technology derived from protocols developed by the Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT) and the Natural Resources Institute (NRI). Observations made suggest that the adoption of the ambient storage techniques will help reduce financial losses (both physical and financial) to the benefit of producers, marketing agents and consumers.