Some important conditions to enable supply chains to work.

 

Supply driven – identification of a product which could be traded creates the search for a market.

• Recognition of market potential, possibly located away from the community, for a product available in the community. 

• Existence of an effective intermediary to establish links between the community and the market, particularly with respect to communicating consumer quality and quantity requirements to producers.

• Community organization enabling it to adapt production and/or processing to meet the demands of the new market while maintaining the resource. 

Demand driven – marketing is established on the basis of demand for MAPs 

• Good flow of information from the consumer back to the producer, often moderated by an intermediary and/or community organization. 

• An understanding of demand trends to enable producers to determine the appropriate levels of investment in production and processing. 

• Effective communication ensures that producers are able to respond quickly to changes in demand, whether for a greater quantity or a different quality of product