Fuman Agric Agricultural Products Fruit Juice Manufacturer Essay Example
Fuman Agric Agricultural Products is a medium-scale fruit juice manufacturer. It was established in 1995 when it took over the old Lana Canning Factory, which was founded in 1954. The company mainly uses fresh fruits like orange, guava, pineapple, mango, and passion fruit as its major raw materials. Their main production lines consist of natural fruit juices, such as orange, pineapple, and guava, which are available in 250ml tetrapak packages. Additionally, they also produce canned fruits. Currently, the company operates at a production capacity of 10 percent of its installed capacity, with an installed capacity of 5t/h.
The company's purchasing manager procures fruits locally, both from independent traders with informal links to the company and from Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, and Edo States in western Nigeria; Cross River in eastern Nigeria; and Nasarawa, Kaduna, and Benue Stat
...es in the Middle Belt. There are no formal contracts made with suppliers. The company sets the price and typically offers the average between the seasonal and off-seasonal price. The company prefers to buy during the glut season when prices are low because the fresh fruit market demand is saturated.
In May 2002, pineapples were bought at a price of approximately IJS$ 800 per tonne. The processor has the option to offer transportation and, in certain instances, provides some pre-financing to traders. The direct connections to the farming community are primarily with previous cooperative groups that had collaborated with the former Lana Canning Factory in the aforementioned western States. By doing so, they offer favorable loans, planting materials, equipment, and other agricultural resources while the farmer cooperative groups sell their goods to the company.
The compan
has the authority to reject subpar products and pays farmers average annual prices for their crops. In cases where open market prices are higher than company prices, farmers choose to sell their produce in the open market. Additionally, the company procures supplies directly from producers and agents in eastern and central Nigeria, paying prevailing market prices. The main challenge that the company encounters is the limited availability of raw materials. The farming sector is not adequately prepared to provide a consistent and reliable supply to the factory.
Competition from alternative markets, particularly from northern Nigeria where these fruits are not typically cultivated, diminishes the company's raw material supply. At present, the company is endeavoring to acquire concentrated Juice supplies from Ghana and South America. Furthermore, there are other constraints mentioned including high interest rates imposed by commercial banks (32-35 percent pa) and persistent issues with electricity supplies. There are various factors that need improvement, including appropriate staffing and a degree of decentralization in management structure which are crucial.
Effective communication is critical for ensuring a consistent supply of raw materials, specifically oranges, through cooperative farming. It is crucial to maintain a strong relationship between the company and farmer groups, particularly those inherited from the previous Lana Canning Company. To achieve this, it is important for farmers to collaborate with the company and have a comprehensive understanding of their production system. To facilitate this communication effectively, it is essential to appoint a well-trained liaison and extension officer who has local area knowledge.
References: Glover D. 1987. Increasing the benefits to smallholders from contract farming, problems for farmers' organizations and policy makers.
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