The Antigua and Barbuda Bureau of Standards (ABBS) in collaboration with the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) and the International Cooperation of the German Metrology Institute -Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) hosted the 2nd CALIDENA methodology workshop on 11 – 13 February, 2014 in Antigua & Barbuda. The goal of the CALIDENA Methodology is to strengthen the Quality Infrastructure (QI) services that are needed to support a specific value chain. The workshop’s objectives were to:
- Undertake a rapid participatory diagnosis of quality requirements needs for the Jams and Jellies Sector against the current supply of quality infrastructure services being provided in support of the Sector.
- Identification of bottlenecks and opportunities to strengthen local supply of QI services in a demand oriented way
- Elaborate and agree an action plan to upgrade the QI services for the Jams and Jellies Sector.
Participants were selected from across the Jams and Jellies sector; these included the Christian Valley Agricultural Division, Central Marketing Corporation, distributors of the finished product, and small farmers. Several Agro-processors, who are the producers of the jams and jellies, were also in attendance. Feedback from these groups was essential in identifying concerns and needs within the sector.
Support institutions to the value chain such as ABBS, Analytical Services Division, IICA and CROSQ also participated fully in elaborating the Action Plan.
ACTION PLAN: CALIDENA VALUE CHAIN FOR JAMS AND JELLIES
| What | How | Who | When |
| Sanitary and quality management at company level | Adapt HACCPRequest Training to the ABBS | Owner/operation manager or supervisor | Within 12 months |
| Upgrading the capabilities of the lab to support the sector |
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| Request for a National standard for jams and jellies | Processors make formal request to the ABBS | The president of the agro-processors association | Within 1 week |
| Technical regulation for labeling | Technical regulation to be finalized – gazette notice with implementation date | ABBS and Legal Affairs | To be determined |
| Guide for good agriculture practices for fruits (harvesting and post harvesting handling) |
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| Training in specific standards | Select standards and design workshop format | ABBS and Support Organizations (CROSQ/IICA) | Within 3 months |
| Information material about results (poster broachers) | Promotional material, media, workshops | Action plan committee | Within 2 months |
To implement and monitor the Action Plan developed, the CALIDENA Implementation Committee of Antigua & Barbuda was formed. The members of this Committee are:
- Ministry of Agriculture
- Analytical Services Division
- Antigua and Barbuda Investment Authority
- IICA
- Antigua and Barbuda Bureau of Standards
- Antigua and Barbuda Agro processors Association
- Industry and Commerce
Participants agreed they gained important information with respect to Quality Infrastructure and a better understanding of each other’s role and expectations within the Value Chain.
For further information with respect to the workshop or the CALIDENA Methodology, please contact us by email at crosq.caricom@crosq.org.
