Prior to establishing a new processing enterprise, it is essential to carry out a thorough preliminary study to determine the potential of the business. The following is a checklist of the basic factors that should be studied:
1. Availability of raw material - seasonal variations.
2. Quality of raw material in the varieties needed for the various types of finished products.
3. Harvesting and transport practices and organisation from the field to the processing centre.
4. Processing capacity related to raw material availability: quantities, seasonability etc.
5. Processing equipment size/capacity for the above points.
6. Availability of trained operators and resources to improve their knowledge.
7. Availability of workforce in the area and resources for training them to the level required.
8. Availability of utilities: electricity, running drinking water, adequate waste disposal.
9. Position of the future processing centre in relation to raw material fields and to the closest means of transport: road access, railway access.
10. Market availability for the finished products and for optional semi-processed products.