Cardamom producers in Myanmar are facing challenges in accessing markets. Their main market is China, but, in recent years, prices have been dropping significantly. ProFound is supporting these producers and traders to find alternative markets. For that purpose, our consultant Jolanda van Hal travelled to Myanmar to prepare them for participation at international trade fairs.
Preparing cardamom traders for trade fair participation
Jolanda gave a training to the Multi-Stakeholder Platform created by SNV in the project “Improving the incomes and nutrition outcomes of rural poor in Northern Kayin State”. This training focused on different aspects related to trade fairs such as:
- Selecting the right trade fair:
- How to determine goals for trade fair participation;
- How to reach those goals.
- How and why to do market research at trade fairs in new markets.
- Pitching your product to new buyers/partners.
- Scenario planning.
This was a follow-up from a training that we gave in November. Therefore, we also determined progresses made on the action plan developed back then.
What are the next steps of this project?
The next step for the group from Myanmar was to participate in the International Food Ingredients and Additives exhibition and conference in Japan. However, with the current coronavirus pandemic, participation in this event and other international fairs has become unsure. In the coming months, we will focus on building the capacities of the platform to join other (inter)national events with buyers.
About the project:
The aim of the project is to improve the incomes and nutrition outcomes of smallholder farmers in Myanmar. This can be achieve by improving their position in selected value chains. As mentionned before, ProFound is working with its partner SNV, but the project was implemented by a consortium of CDN-ZOA, World Concern Myanmar, CORDAID and local partners. ProFound current focus is togive trainings to help the Multi-Stakeholder Platform to connect to new markets.