On October 25 and 26, 2024, the2nd practical workshop for product development in Chad was held at the Gassi agro-food production unit. This practical workshop brought together the players involved in the PMCA (participatory market chain approach) implemented as part of CROPS4HD. The overall aim of the workshop was to improve the process of developing products from neglected and underutilized species (NUS).
The workshop brought together the following actors: local product processors, cooking schools, women’s associations, food technology and nutrition experts, production technology trainers and a consultancy specializing in product quality support. A total of 49 participants attended the workshop.
Over the two days, three thematic groups worked on the development of five products: fonio and potato pea cookies, moringa and sesame juices, and an okra sauce kit. These thematic groups were formed following the 1st PMCA event in N’djamena, during which the various actors in the NUS and agricultural products market in the CROPS and N’djamena intervention zones exchanged. The groups are the following:
Thematic Group 1: Cereals, pulses and oilseeds (fonio, earth peas, pigeon peas and sesame) ;
Thematic group 2: Vegetables (okra, eggplant, amaranth, etc.) ;
Thematic group 3: Other agroecological products (Moringa, dwarf tree, sorrel, etc.).
Participants worked on the following aspects of product development:
– A technical data sheet defining the main criteria for choosing raw materials
– A production diagram for each product developed
– Appropriate and attractive product packaging
– Sampling for quality control
– Physico-chemical and microbiological analysis reports
More broadly, participants not only benefited from each other’s expertise, as well as the expertise of the specialized consultancy office and specialists in the agri-food processing chain, but they also developed their mutual trust by collaborating and innovating together.
