Training Plan for Dragash herbs gatherers and growers

Transcription

1 International Link and Services for Local Economic Development Agencies for a fair, human, sustainable and inclusive development Andrea Primavera (Herbs value chain Expert) Training Plan for Dragash herbs gatherers and growers (/08/2013) Andrea Primavera - Basic Training Plan for Dragash Herbs gatherers and growers - 1

2 1. Background 1.1 The Strategic Guidelines for the Herbs value chain The UNDP Conservation of biodiversity and sustainable Land use Management in Dragash Project, with the support of ART ILS LEDA, has identified potentialities and constrains of several value chains existing in the territorial system of interest. The Herbs value chain is one of them. According with the general aims of the Project and with the results of the action- research carried out until now in the area, the target of the envisaged and shared strategy 1 in order to improve the conditions of the value chain consists in the reduction of the Detractor Factors identified, through the progressive clearing of the Obstacles, in order to induce the increase of the level of sustainable utilisation of the territorial competitiveness and of its effects, making the value chain ready to manage and support the interactions with the other territorial socio- economic dynamics (upper level strategies). In order to accomplish the strategic target, the Strategic Guidelines (SG) of I level for the Herbs value chain are aimed at valorizing the local production, through improving performance (productivity and utilization of the territorial competitive advantages), completing the value chain, facilitating local national, and international networking, increasing the availability of basic and advanced services, improving and facilitating marketing activities. 1.2 The implementation of the Strategic Guidelines The implementation of the Strategic Guidelines has been designed through the elaboration of an Integrated Project 2, whose complete realization has been foreseen on the medium- long term. The elaboration of the Basic Training Plan here described is the first step for the implementation of the intervention HEIPB01 of the above mentioned Integrated Project, whose complete output is a two- year Optimized Plan for the Herbs, composed by a two- year Regional Herbs Marketing Plan, the design of a sustainable Herbs Production System, a sustainable Herbs Production Plan, the design of an effective system of services, a Basic Training Plan. The designing and the implementation of the Basic Training Plan constitute an intervention of quick and significant impact on the avenue of the full realization of the targets of the Strategic Guidelines. 1 See "LED Strategic Guidelines for Dragash - I level - Herbs value chain". 2 See the "Integrated Projects for the Bees, Forest and Herbs value chains". Andrea Primavera - Basic Training Plan for Dragash Herbs gatherers and growers - 2

3 2. The Basic Training Plan 2.1. The aim This Basic Training Plan is aimed at: understanding the parameters that can affect herbs quality, improving the techniques of harvesting in a compatible way with the needs of safeguarding both the natural stocks and the local environmental biodiversity, understanding the connection between raw materials, semi- processed products and finished products, learning more about post- harvest processes and relationship with quality, learning more about the application of Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP), under EU system, inducing awareness into the local actors (gatherers and farmers) about the market standards, requests and potentialities, highlighting the chances and the opportunities, for the gatherers/farmers, related to different, "not conventional" (for the area) approaches to the production and to the market (i.e. increase of the added value of their products through processing on their own, direct sale of finished products to the consumers, etc.), making the local actors able to give an adequate answer to the requests of wholesale traders and processors in terms of quality of herb raw materials The structure This Basic Training Plan is composed by independent modules regarding different logic areas and steps in the primary and immediately secondary sides of the Herbs value chain. As a "basic" training activity, it can be followed in toto by every local actor of the value chain. This Plan has been conceived in order to allow the local actors to fully understand the importance of the Herbs value chain. At the same time, it also gives a wide view on the opportunities for each actor, in integrating downstream and upstream activities in order to add value to the product. The above mentioned modules are the following ones: 1. Herb production in Europe: state of the art and scenarios; 2. Farming the herbs: a new frontier; 3. The herb factory: post- harvest processes and products; 4. The market issues; 5. Herbs quality issues and standards. The training activity will be completed with field visits. Andrea Primavera - Basic Training Plan for Dragash Herbs gatherers and growers - 3

4 Herbs Basic Training Plan Aims Herb production in Europe: state of the art and scenarios The Herbs value chain offers a good opportunities to valorise wasteland and natural areas, and to create new cash opportunities in for medium and small farms through growing herbs. As introductory training the global value of herbs, uses, tradition will be explained as important step to understand the value of this resource in the Dragash region. The world of medicinal plants. Tradition of utilization. Uses of medicinal and aromatic plants in UE countries. World facts (Numbers & statistics). Geography of medicinal and aromatic plants. Economic and geographic competition. Wild harvest, agro forestry and agriculture comparison. Main aspects of the flora conservation and management. The problems related to the shift from wild collection to cultivation. Plants of interest for wild collection and agro forestry. Target The beneficiaries of the training, motivated people actually not professionally involved in the value chain, selected through a dedicated call for proposal (see 3.). Contents I. Introductory and origins Definition of herbs throughout nation and markets. Variety of medicinal plants and their importance to the different peoples. World production and geography. European production and geography. Duration (hours) 01 II. III. IV. Plant utilization Food. Medicine. Cosmetics. Other uses. Wild collection Comparison between wild collection and cultivation: "when" and "how" making the choice. Wild collection advantages. Good collection practice. Wild collected herbs of interest for Kosovo. Endangered flora and law issues. Agro forestry. Intensification of the production: agro forestry opportunities. Domestication. Selection into the wild of germplasm. Trees and shrubs and with medicinal importance, how to grow in efficient systems. Interesting plants for agro forestry in Kosovo. 01 Total 06 Tools and instruments needed Computer + projector and screen for power point presentations. Cable line for internet (or computer with wireless). Andrea Primavera - Basic Training Plan for Dragash Herbs gatherers and growers - 4

5 Aims Herb Basic Training Plan Farming the herbs: a new frontier Cultivation of medicinal herbs is a general trend in Europe, USA and China. This agriculture is quite new everywhere, since those plants are cultivated from a century at most. Bring the wild plants into cultivation looks something very easy, but not domestic plants react not properly when planted in the field. The aim of this module is to make the farmers able to face the start up of this process and standardize, during the years, the local agronomy. Comparison between domestic plants and cultivated ones. Domestication processes and problems. Germplasm gathering. "In situ" conservation. Basics of genetic selection. Field trials. Standard cultivation of herbs and medicinal plants: principal aspects. Focus on weed control and product harvesting. Possibility of mechanisation. Target The beneficiaries of the training, motivated people actually not professionally involved in the value chain, selected through a dedicated call for proposal (see 3.). Contents I. Agriculture start- ups Agricultural facts regarding medicinal plants in Europe and in the world. Wild and domestic: how to approach. Choosing the soil. Making a trial. Analyzing the results. Duration (hours) II. III. Agronomics of medicinal plants Plant propagation Preparing the soil Fertilization Weed control Pest control Nutrients (water, NPK) Harvesting and nearby operation Plants cultivation protocols Major plants, interesting also for Kosovo with details for plantation, fertilization, protection from pests and weeds, harvesting, post- harvest aspects, uses and market hints 04 Total 08 Tools and instruments needed Computer + projector and screen for power point presentations. Cable line for internet (or computer with wireless). Pruning scissors. 4-5 Plastic pots cm diameter, gardening ground enough to fill them. Branches of rosemary, lavender, thymus or any similar plant. Andrea Primavera - Basic Training Plan for Dragash Herbs gatherers and growers - 5

6 Aims Herbs Basic Training Plan The herb factory: post- harvest processes and products All the herbs need to be processed to be stable for storage and shipment to the market. Drying is the most frequent options. Distillation can be another. The aim of the module is to depict the whole of the flowchart from freshly collected herb (or root, or berry) to the commercial items. Both many aspects of the technology and different equipments and solutions are illustrated. Possible herbs processing. Drying: means of drying, solar drying, artificial power drying. Simple field dryers. Distillation: kind of distillers, essential oil and hydrosols production. Storage: best storage practices, pest control, safety and quality aspects connected with storage. Dried herb, seed and berry processing: cutting, threshing, sorting. Standards herbal sorts in the market. Equipments and opportunity for small enterprises. Legal aspects. Target The beneficiaries of the training, motivated people actually not professionally involved in the value chain, selected through a dedicated call for proposal (see 3.). Contents I. Drying Drying principles and parameters. Drying equipments. Quality in drying. II. Distillation Distillation principles and parameters. Distillation equipments. Quality in distillation. III. Storage Storage principles and parameters. Storage materials. Storage facilities. Quality in storage. IV. Other processes A glance on extraction: extract concentration and extract drying. Duration (hours) 04 Total 04 Tools and instruments needed Computer + projector and screen for power point presentations. Cable line for internet (or computer with wireless). Samples of herbs (ask to HIT Flores). Fabric sheet. Collection knife. Andrea Primavera - Basic Training Plan for Dragash Herbs gatherers and growers - 6

7 Aims Herbs Basic Training Plan The market issues Good products need a market. To find the market is necessary to know the national, regional (Balkans) and international markets. It is important both the operators are aware of their role. At the same time, the single growers/harvester must be aware of the importance of the cooperation and of the networking. The market of herbs in Europe: players, trends and general strategy. How to access the market with simple elements of marketing "business to business" market approach. Opportunity for the Herbs value chain in a domestic production of finished products. Elementary strategies of external (addressed to final consumer) marketing The opportunity of integration with other local productive systems of the region. Target The beneficiaries of the training, motivated people actually not professionally involved in the value chain, selected through a dedicated call for proposal (see 3.). I. The wholesale market of raw material Structure of the market and players. "Where" and "how" the players meet each other. Prices and stocks. Main features of the products. Possible future trends. Basic elements of "business to business" marketing. Contents Duration (hours) II. The finished products market: opportunity for Dragash European market. Major products features (packaging, labeling, presentation). Shops and outlets. "Business to Consumer" market strategy. Kosovo market opportunities. Domestic products features (packaging, labeling, presentation). Examples of products. Total 04 Tools and instruments needed Computer + projector and screen for power point presentations. Cable line for internet (or computer with wireless). Samples of marketing material (to be provided by the teacher). Samples of finished products: local and Italian ones (these latter to be provided by the teacher). Andrea Primavera - Basic Training Plan for Dragash Herbs gatherers and growers - 7

8 Herbs Basic Training Plan Herbs quality issues and standards Herbs quality is most important topic to fully understand to win in the global market. Quality depends on quality of environment in which herbs grow. But quality depends also on the downstream processes. The module aim to depict to the beneficiary the concept of global quality. Furthermore the focus will be on quality standards requested by different market to ensure safety and efficacy of the herbs and derivatives. Basic paperwork and registrations for good practices recording will be also illustrated. Quality for safety: contamination on the field, contamination on the facility. How to prevent contamination and how to solve it, whenever possible. Quality for efficacy: cultivation protocols, good manufacturing practices in drying, storing distilling. Certificate of Production and Certificate of Analysis. Contents Duration (hours) I. Good practices Production according to GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) and HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points). Achieving the GMP and the HACCP certifications: o the laboratory: - structural setting, - partitioning of local and its meaning, - equipment and materials, - laboratory hygiene, - environmental conditions, - protection from pests. o Clothing and personal hygiene. o Rules and legal aspects. 04 II. Activity in the field Visiting Hit Flores facilities. Field excursion in collection area. Visiting Herbapharma Company. 16 Total 20 Tools and instruments needed Computer + projector and screen for power point presentations Cable line for internet (or computer with wireless) Transfer to fields for the participants TOTAL of basic training: 42 hours 2.3. The training follow- up In order to grant continuity between this training intervention and the implementation of the future, foreseen activity of Advanced Training 3, the two following training modules of "Organization" and Territorial characterization" shall constitute the first logical and chronological modules of this latter. Ø Module: Organization. : - Associations. Cooperatives. 3 See HEIPB01 intervention of the "LED Strategic Guidelines for Dragash - I level - Herbs value chain". Andrea Primavera - Basic Training Plan for Dragash Herbs gatherers and growers - 8

9 Ø - Associative functions: the function of representation, the guarantee function, the promotional function. - Cooperative functions: the function of enterprise, the function of mutuality. - Services. Production services, marketing services. Module: Territorial characterization and market practical strategy. : - Territorial certification: analytical methods and strategic purposes. - Market and productions. - Prices: trends and fixation. - The herbs market: the global market, the European market, competitors. - The segmentation of the market. - The policies of promotion and enhancement of herbs. - The policy of certifications. The certification process, product, source, method The organization 1. Times As already foreseen 4, the training activity should be carried on during the next mission (12/09-25/09/13) in Dragash by Mr. Andrea Primavera, Herbs value chain expert, by himself, with translation and assistance by the UNDP staff. 2. Preparation and selection The operational preparation of the training activity should start to be organized as soon as possible through an organization process carried on by distance by Mr. Andrea Primavera and the local UNDP team in Dragash. The selection of the beneficiaries of the training activity (20-30 people) should be made through a dedicated call for proposal, using the form reported in the following point UNDP support UNDP should take care of the following activities, for the execution of the training activity: promotion and selection of the participants to the courses (see 2.4.b), transportations and food for the participants, selection and preparation of the identified training facility (see 2.4.b), logistic and organizational support for the participants, coordination with other simultaneous training courses, if any, for the local actors in Dragash, coherence with the overall project strategic framework A quick impact action This training intervention can be changed into a quick impact project through simply: Facilitating contacts between the farmers/gatherers in Dragash and new possible buyers, who can offer new markets and better prices immediately. This will be already partly done within this training. Promoting collaboration and farmers/gatherers associations in Dragash (this training will provide some good local examples, which will stimulate associating). The expected results of this project should consist in: a significant optimization of the Herbs value chain production, through a systemic improvement, a significant reduction of the unemployment, through the creation of new small and highly autonomous entrepreneurs in Dragash. 4 See the document "ILS LEDA value chains experts missions in Dragash". Andrea Primavera - Basic Training Plan for Dragash Herbs gatherers and growers - 9

10 3. The selection form for the herbs training 3.1. The items of the form a) ANAGRAFIC DATA b) EDUCATION c) JOB AND OCCUPATION Employment in agriculture Work in another field (please specify...). Unemployed d) INTERESTED IN HERBS: To harvest herbs for family needs To supplement my income To make cultivation/gathering of herbs my main job 5) EXPERIENCE No one No but I've read some good books, I know something I work already with cultivation/gathering of herbs 3.2. Decisional DECISIONAL LIMIT RATING AGE UP TO 30 2 GENDER FEMALE 2 UP TO AREA CULTIVATED WITH HERBS (m 2 ) 1000 TO OVER I sell to local markets 3 Alternative for I sell to a collector 2 gatherers- only: I collect from local gatherers and re- sell 1 UNEMPLOYED 3 TOTAL (MAX. Available) 10 Andrea Primavera - Basic Training Plan for Dragash Herbs gatherers and growers - 10