Background
The Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) has financed a project under the Fast Track facility entitled “The Transfer of Global Information System On Tropical Fruits with Special Focus on Africa”. The main objective of the project is to develop a credible and comprehensive information clearing-house with technical information on tropical fruits, integrated with trade and marketing information system for the benefit of the stakeholders of the tropical fruit industry with particular reference to Africa . The project is designed and implemented in two phases.
The First Phase, which is now completed, included developing the database system with fruits of relevance to Africa and translating it into French with special focus for users in Franchophone Africa. The system is developed by International Tropical Fruits Network (TFNet), an international organisation established under the auspices of Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
The Second Phase involves a “hands-on” skills training workshop. The Common Fund has extended invitations to representatives of the tropical fruit sector of eight countries in Africa to participate as sponsored participants in the training workshop. Representatives of TFNet will provide training to the participants in the use of the system on a “Training of Trainers” basis.
The workshop began with an opening address by the Chief Executive Officer of TFNet, Dr. Izham Ahmad and First Project Officer of CFC, Ms. Eltha Brown. The workshop commenced with presentation on the “Global Overview of Tropical Fruit Industry” by the Project Officer of TFNet, Mr. Chua Piak Chwee, followed by the presentation on introduction to “Global Information System on Tropical Fruits with Special Focus on Africa” which briefed the participants regarding the flow and functionality of the information system. During the workshop, participants were involved in the sessions which comprises of hands-on participation, group discussion and group presentations in order to get their feedback regarding the usefulness and further enhancement of this information system. The 2 day workshop was followed by a field trip to the Selangor Fruit Valley and visit to Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Show 2008 (MAHA) at Serdang, Selangor.
Objectives of the Workshop
• To familiarise participants with the technical flow and content of the Information System
• To provide an opportunity for participants to review the “user-friendliness” and relevance/usefulness of the system
• To encourage participants to review the content of the Information System and provide feedback for further enhancement of the system
• To serve as a forum for participants to contribute ideas for the continuous maintenace and updating of information for the sustainability of the Information System
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
BURKINA FASO
Mrs. Salimata Some Traore
Consuller des Affaires Economiques
Ministre du Commerce
01 BP 5620
Ouagadougou 01
Burkina Faso
Tel: 00226 50312937
Fax: 00226 50377053
Email: salisome@ayahoo.fr
Mr. ATAMANA BERNARD DABIRE
National Coordinator
PAFASP
01 BP 6285
Ouagadougou 01
Burkina Faso
Tel: 00226 50313448/49
Fax: 00226 50304280
Email: atmanabd@fasonet.bf
CAMEROON
DR. BELLA MANGA
Researcher
Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD)
IRAD/CRRA de Nkolbisson
BB. 2067 or BP 2123
Yaounde, Cameroon
Tel: (237) 22 23 85 49/(237) 99 60 45 13
Fax: (237) 2222 3362
Email: bellamangafau@yahoo.fr
COTE d’IVOIRE
MR. DJAHA AKADIE JEAN BAPTISTE
RESEARCHER
CNRA (Centre National de Recherche Agronomique)
01 BP 1740 Abidjan 01 – Km 17 Rte Dabou
Côte d’Ivoire
Tel: (225) 23 47 24 24
Fax: (225) 23 47 24 11
Email: jbakadie@yahoo.fr
GHANA
MR. MICHAEL NORTEY
DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT UNIT (DADU)
DANGME WEST DISTRICT ASSEMBLY
MINISTRY OF FOOD & AGRICULTURE
P. O. BOX DD 31
DODOWA – GREATER ACCRA REGION
GHANA
TEL: +233-21-912-973/4
Email: dadu_dangmewest@yahoo.com
GUINEA
MR. BARRY M. ADBOULAYE
Responsible de secteur agricole
Ministre du Commerce et de la Compatitivita
Conakry, Republique de Guinea
Tel: 224 62 221158/224 67 280958
Email: abdoulayebarry@yahoo.fr
NIGERIA
DR. BABASOLA AYODELE ADELAJA
Asst. Director (Fruits & Spices Research)
National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT)
Jericho Reservation Area, Idi-Ishin, P.M.B. 5432, Ibadan, Nigeria
Ibadan
Oyo state, Nigeria
Tel: 234-02-2412230
Email: babmol@yahoo.com
SENEGAL
DR. MASSAER NGUERE
Researcher on Tropical fruits
ISRA (Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles)
Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles
Route des Hydrocarbures
BP : 3120 Bel-Air, DAKAR , SENEGAL
Tel: +221 33 832 62 98
Fax: +221 33 832 24 27
Email: massnguer@yahoo.fr
MR. REMEN SWAI
Project Coordinator, CFC/TZI Horticulture Project
Trans Zambezi Industries Ltd (Tanzania)
P.O. Box 31618
Dar es Salaam
TANZANIA
Tel: +255 784 339170 (Mobile phone)
Email: reswai@yahoo.com
WORKSHOP CORDINATORS
MS. ELTHA BROWN
Project Manager
Common Fund for Commodities
Stadhouderskade 55, 1072 AB
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Tel: 31 20 5754965
Fax: 31 20 6760231
Email: Eltha.Brown@common-fund.org
DR. IZHAM AHMAD
Chief Executive Officer
International Tropical Fruits Network (TFNet)
Box 334 UPM Post Office
43400 Serdang, Selangor
Malaysia
Tel: 603 8941 6589
Fax: 603 8941 6591
Email: ceo@itfnet.org
WORKSHOP FACILITATORS
MR. CHUA PIAK CHWEE
Project Officer
International Tropical Fruits Network (TFNet)
Box 334 UPM Post Office
43400 Serdang, Selangor
Malaysia
Tel: 603 8941 6589
Fax: 603 8941 6591
Email: chuapc@itfnet.org / chuapc@p.jaring.my
MR. MOHD. KHAIRUL NAJMI ABDULLAH
IT Officer
International Tropical Fruits Network (TFNet)
Box 334 UPM Post Office
43400 Serdang, Selangor
Malaysia
Tel: 603 8941 6589
Fax: 603 8941 6591
Email: khairul@itfnet.org