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Defining
an information strategy for the sector means answering three questions:
Who is our public? What are this public's information needs? Are they
met (or not) today?
InterDev Food Processing Targets Enterprises in the Wide Sense
In developing countries, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises
play a central role in stimulating local economies. Unlike often over-sized
industries, these small enterprises are very flexible and adapt to
difficult market conditions. They require little investment, they
create jobs and added value, and they support the production of local
raw agricultural materials in an industry dynamic.
Here, we
consider food processing businesses to be economic units that get
organised to produce and turn a profit from their activities; we do
not take into account staff size, turnover, legal status, or presence
in the formal or informal sector. InterDev Food Processing addresses
mainly small and medium businesses although craft activities, neighbourhood
mills that offer services, and informal women's groups are not excluded.
InterDev
Aims to Meet a Need for Operational and Practical Information
Needs pertain
to technological aspects (equipment and processing procedures, improving
quality, market preparation and packaging, etc.), commercialisation
(local, regional and international opportunities) and business management
(financial analysis, finding funding, taxes and regulations, etc.).
Consumer health has particular importance due to the risks for consumers
if businesses sell products of poor sanitary quality.
The useful
information supply comes in different products and services: experience
records and business profiles, technical records on processing technologies,
professional directories, equipment manufacturers' catalogues, and
equipment descriptions.
The relays in the dissemination of information towards businesses
are support organisations in the food processing sector connected
to Internet: NGOs, programmes, consultancy firms, and socio-professional
organisations. Information is gathered, selected and formatted to
meet the needs of this target public.
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