WORLD CASHEW FESTIVAL & EXPOSITION 2013 PARTICIPANT EVALUATIONS Friday, October 11, 2013

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................. 3

QUALITY OF DATA ................................................................................................................ 5

ANALYSIS OF DATA .............................................................................................................. 6

REVISION OF EVALUATION ................................................................................................ 15  

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SUMMARY A total of 189 evaluations were summited at the end of the conference, which is 55% of the total number of participants (346) that attended this year. This is the geographic breakdown of the participants that turned in an evaluation:

WEST AFRICA Benin (10) Burkina Faso (10) Cote d’Ivoire (37) Gambia (6) Ghana (47) Guinea-Bissau (6) Nigeria (15) Senegal (10) Togo (1)

SOUTH/ EAST AFRICA Kenya (7) Mozambique (3) Tanzania (10)

ASIA Hong Kong (2) India (2) Japan (1) Singapore (1) Vietnam (2)

EUROPE France (1) Germany (1)

OTHER Brazil (3) Turkey (1) United States (4) Did not respond (8)

AFRICAN COUNTRY ATTENDANCE The majority of the participants that attended the conference and returned the forms were from West Africa.

OVERALL LEVEL OF SATISFACTION WITH THE CONFERENCE The majority of participants (61%) were ‘satisfied’ with the conference.

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Most common suggestions/ comments included: • Some individuals (tended to be East African) felt that too much emphasis was

placed on Ghana and West Africa • Several felt that each association should have an opportunity to report on the

progress of cashews in their country • Others mentioned the lack of French and translation services. • There were several comments related to the cost of attendance and several calls to

reduce the cost so that more farmers could attend. • The importance providing enough sessions for each target audience – it is difficult to

satisfy everyone with a three-day conference  

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QUALITY OF DATA It is difficult to draw reliable conclusions from most of the evaluation. Several of the questions could have been clearer. Because many of the questions had text based answers it was difficult to aggregate some of the responses. Included later in this document are suggestions for next year’s evaluations including the suggestion to “break down the distribution of the evaluations” i.e. hand them out right after or during a session. The most unreliable data is from the second day of the conference. Many people misread the spaces on the evaluation and provided feedback on sessions they could not have attended, as many were being held simultaneously. It would have been impossible to filter out those responses, so they have been included.

 

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ANALYSIS OF DATA

 

QUESTION SELECTION OF RESPONSES ANALYSIS

1. How did you hear about the 8th ACA Annual Conference

The companies that invited or requested participants to attend included MOFA (8), NUTPACK, IRD (2), ARECA, ICA Burkina (2), Ghana Cashew Industry Association, and Gambia Cashew Alliance. Those that mentioned another event wrote last year’s conference (4) and a partner Event run by ARECA (1). The Newspaper was the Daily Graphic from Ghana.

The majority of respondents listed that they heard about the conference through the website. Unfortunately the question does ask what prompted them to look at the website. Others received an email or newsletter from ACA. From the evaluations that it does not seem like the telephone calls, newspaper ads or television spots were memorable.

2. What aspect of the conference was the most impactful?

“B2B meetings because it helps to address the challenges within the sector” “each and every aspect of the conference” “processing technology”

About 60% of respondents wrote something within this section. The majority mentioned networking, the processing technology session or farmers workshop. Once again it was difficult to categorize the responses because people were allowed to write in their responses. Please see the Raw data.

3. What do you think of the organization of the conference and its events

“Great! Well done ACA team” “well organized, fees expensive” “not well organised in terms of diplomatic delegation”

Overall it seemed that participants were happy with the organization of the conference. There was a comment about protocol during there conference that was not as positive.

4. What are the two or three main lessons learnt in this conference that you will apply in your work or to your organization?

See Raw Data

METHOD COUNT

Via Email 22

Through ACA 7

From a Colleague 8

From my Company 24

On the Website 32

Through ACi 9

At another Event 5

I am a Member 10

Did not respond 68

Through TV 1

From TV/ Telephone 2

Via Email/ Newspaper

1

 

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5. To what extend were your expectations for this conference met? Explain

“Events were properly organized” “very informative” “because [I got to meet] a lot of people …. involved in RCN and kernel” “I have learnt new ideas which will be of help to my company”

Responses to this question were across the board. Some people mentioned the conference organization, while others mentioned what they got of the conference professionally.

6. What kind of market information would you like to receive for your business?

See Raw Data See Raw Data

7. How frequently would you like to receive this market information?

See Raw Data

Responses ranged. After attempting to aggregate the responses it seems like people would prefer having information as quickly as possible through weekly updates. And if not weekly at least monthly.

Plenary Session SESSION MEAN SELECTION OF RESPONSES ANALYSIS

Ghana: “The Gateway to Africa!”

2.9

“the presentation was not backed with creditable data (verifiable).” “Excellent core presentation. All have shown high commitment to cashew” “there was very good policies which the government can put in place” “This is true because Ghana is a peaceful country for business” “Not at all African countries, only for West African countries” “too long”

African Cashew Alliance: the sustainability Challenge!

3.0

“Linking partners within the cashew value chain” “ACA is even ready to resolve them” “Bring[s] actors in the cashew industry together” “encouraging to hear the plan”

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Sustainable Farmer-Processor Partnership Perspectives!

3.0

“Still a challenge - with regard to farm gate price/ compensation to farmer”

“Good presentation”

Investment Opportunities and Experiences Along the Cashew Value Chain

3.2

“ACi need to expand geographical area” “Microphone of Lars W. was too quiet” “All panel members are industry players and understood and presented worthwhile experiences”

New Market and Opportunities for Cashew Products

3.3

International & Dried Fruit: Global Cashew Council

2.8 “the "she" presenter was well prepared and its materials presented were detailed and of good quality”

Breakout Sessions SESSION MEAN SELECTION OF RESPONSES ANALYSIS

Farming Techniques

Breeding and conservation of Cashew in Africa: Status and Perspectives

2.9

“well presented but the quality of the session could have been improved if there was presentation from the beginning of Africa of Tanzania + Mozambique” “too much time used on general introductions” “were useful and excellent.”

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Promoting Best Cashew Varities : Learning Exchange on Tree Nurseries and Other Methods

3.0

“learning experience for me” “detailed and to the point” “panel more speakers including practicing nursery operators”

Processing Techniques and Technologies

Cashew Market 2013 and the Latest Processing Trends

3.2

“more time needed for such important topic” “showed rather take look at 2014 as 2013 is already too late”

The Newest Processing Technology and Update on the Equipment Study

3.1

“Mr. Jim used Mozambique pictures and gave a bad image of Mozambique kernels. I understand he was trying to rise awareness on food safety but the fact that he mentioned that picture were from Moz. has given a bad image of the country.” “More time is needed for the session with 4 presenters”

By-Products Processing Experiences

3.1

Cashew & Sustainable Ideas

Next Steps for the ACA Seal 3.0

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Food Inspection & Compliance

2.9

The International Cashew Sustainability Initiative

3.2

Finance & Investment

Commercial Banking 2.5

Development Banking 2.7

Alternatives Financing Social and Equity Financing

2.8

Cashew Policy

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Sector Policy and Regulations at the Country Level

3.0 “highly relevant, however only are ministers present, good facilitator”

Regional Trade & Industry Development for Growing the Cashew Sector

2.9 “no ECOWAS present, highly relevant, good presenters and facilitation, but new better focus”

Business2Business

Open Networking 3.1 “It helps business partners to know each other personally also share their challenges.”

Meetings 3.1

Overall Day Item MEAN SELECTION OF RESPONSES ANALYSIS

World Cashew Expo 3.1

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Committee meetings 3.0

Business Interactions and Meetings

3.2

Networking 3.2

Conference Communications

3.1

Quality of Participants 3.3

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Interpretation 2.9

Support from the ACA Secretariat

3.2

QUESTION SELECTION OF RESPONSES

If you were to plan this conference, what would you do differently and why? What suggestions to do you have for the next year?

There was a range of responses to this question. Several mentioned logistics, other pricing. Tanzania was mentioned several times as a possible location for the next conference. Below are a few full responses that capture the majority of the evaluator’s comments: “ACA to hire logistics service company instead of ACA staff doing everything - I would not have the whole of the first day dedicated to registration (for ordinary participants) alone - Maybe the presentations should have began on Monday even before official opening in the evening/ afternoon” “Peer review of presentations. Improve transport services. Borrow experience from successful countries” “1.) ACA to sponsor some famers/ process at lower level from various countries probably two from each country to share their experiences as they well give you through picture 2.) There should be processors for late exhibitors who will still pay money for whatever space provided” “Identify and bring in potential investors and successful individuals in the cashew industry” “Field trips should not be far from the conference venue” “I will give a chance for all cashew producing countries to produce their work” “I could reduce the participation fee to allow more participants especially farmers.” “Photographers were not there. to give on time private pictures you had them in Benin” “more equipment manufacturers. would like to see a "for processors only" session or cocktail so we can network and discuss what works + doesn’t, without distraction of NGOs and farmers” “Hard copies of the presentations should be available” “There was a problem with translation. The headsets were not working. Next year these issues must be addressed”

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Please give us any further comments or recommendations for ACA activities in the rest year.

Some comments from this session included: “I want to recommend that ACA should develop a standard engineering committee that will have to come extent control on manufacturers producing processing machines; so that cost on procuring machine will have value by getting reliable + standardized equipment vetted by ACA.” “Farmer should be given opportunity to show ideas” “improve on exhibition entries” “presentation from all countries so that to share opportunities and challenges and come up with common understanding” “ACA should treat equally all cashew producing countries. Currently it is western allied.”

 

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REVISION OF EVALUATION • In the next evaluation there should be more direct questions and less space given for

comments. • Give evaluations on a daily basis to receive better reflections. • There does not need to be a place for the evaluator’s name. Instead demographic

information should be collected: o Country o Place in the value chain o Profession o Organization Name o Membership status

• More specific directions should be given and multiple choice should be used in place of text heavy questions.

• Provide numbering spaces • Section to ask what services from ACA the participant has used and how they would

rate those services • Provide individuals an evaluation on the exhibition that is separate from the main

evaluation – it should be given to people as they exit/ enter the exhibition so that their immediate reactions are captured.

• Registration process should be evaluated separately. Perhaps an overall evaluation of the conference can be given on the last day.

• There should be evaluations given out at each session to ensure that only the feedback of those people who attended the session is captured.