An Appraisal of The Small-Scale Agroprocessing Sector in Rodrigues – Part 2: Product Marketing, Training Programmes and Awareness of Support Services

Abstract

This second and final paper on the agroprocessing sector in Rodrigues deals
with the marketing of agroprocessed products, the relevance of past training
programmes, future training needs in the sector and end-users’ awareness of
support services. 119 producers were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The survey indicated that the products are mostly sold directly to the consumers (69%) by the processors, either along the roadside or market stalls. The products are mainly advertised through word-ofmouth. Most of them do not keep financial, production and sale records and do not calculate their cost of production. 75% of them fix the selling price by adding a mark-up on their perceived cost of production, while some 20.4% rely on the prices set by their competitors. 68% of the respondents An Appraisal of The Small Scale Agroprocessing Sector in Rodrigues- Part 2: Product Marketing, Training Programmes and Awareness of Support Services 59 have followed a training programme and 80% of them find it to be
beneficial. There is a high demand for training in the following areas; food preservation techniques, packaging, food labelling, food safety and quality,
business management and marketing skills. Several support institutions
provide technical information, financial assistance and training to the agroprocessors but their activities are not properly coordinated. Specific
recommendations regarding improved marketing strategies, effective training programmes and support services are made for boosting the agroprocessing sector.

Keywords: Rodrigues, small-scale agroprocessors, marketing, training,
support institutions.