Seminar in Madrid: distribution and marketing of perishable agricultural products

As the domains touched by economic liberalisation and competitivity grows, the marketing and distribution of agro-food products is becoming a sizeable issue for certain ACP countries. These countries need to become full players in global commercial networks, and to have access to international markets. Spain is one of the leading countries in the marketing of perishable agro-food products. In April 1998, CTA joined forces with the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, to organise a seminar with the primary goal of analysing this sector in the European context, and as it applies to the various situations in the represented ACP States. The seminar brought together professionals from the fish, fruit and vegetable sectors of Spanish-speaking countries (Equatorial Guinea and the Dominican Republic), Portuguese-speaking countries (Angola, Guinea Bissau and Mozambique) and French-speaking countries (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Mauritania and Senegal). Trade in these products between the European Union (EU) and the aforementioned countries is of considerable importance. Each country sent two representatives, one from the public sector and another from the independent sector; thus, there were present private operators and members of Chambers of Commerce, public bodies and producer associations. The programme was divided into plenary sessions, field visits and working groups, and covered all phases of the perishability cycle from production to the end of the distribution chain. The field visits served to illustrate points raised in plenary sessions: production centres, wholesale markets (the wholesale market of Madrid, Mercamadrid, is the leading world market in fish, at least in terms of variety), large shopping malls and hypermarkets, and street sale points. Other aspects covered included: norms and classification (of the EU), quality control and inspection, transport problems and promotion campaigns. The working groups analysed the situation in their countries in terms of production, transport and marketing for each sector. The principal recommendations by participants pointed to the need to achieve better control of production and marketing by means of improved technical and commercial training, access to finance and credit, seeking out non-traditional markets and joint ventures, diversification of outlets and distribution circuits, the development of transport infrastructures at the national and regional levels, and the development of storage and handling facilities and equipment. A major constraint was seen in the lack of information and statistical data. Further reading: The promotion of fruit and vegetable production in the ACP countries for export to the EEC countries. Seminar synopsis, Arnhem, December 1991. CTA, 1992. ISBN 92 9081 0947, CTA number 463, 5 credit points. Production of ACP fresh fruits and vegetables for export to the EEC. Seminar proceedings, Arnhem, December 1991. CTA, 1993. ISBN 92 9081 0955, CTA number 558, 20 credit points.Seminar in Madrid: distribution and marketing of perishable agricultural productsIn April 1998, CTA joined forces with the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, to organise a seminar with the primary goal of analysing this sector in the