Joe. If we helped save somebody the pain, cost and effort of a failure . I think it was a good job. If it leads to rethinking and success--that'd be good too. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joe Shaw" <jshaw@opuntiads.com> To: <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> Sent: Saturday, December 16, 2006 9:33 AM Subject: [pbs] Update, microcredit, etc. > Hi Gang, > > It seems that my buddy and his connections in India have confirmed almost > all the ideas presented in this forum (pro and con) about bulb crops for a > microcredit-type business. The main result is that the cons outweigh the > pros. Interestingly, Web ordering is not a major problem as text messages > can instantaneously reach remote areas on that wonder-of-wonders > invention, > the cell phone. > > As was predicted, marketing-related problems are the fly in the ointment. > It is quite true that domestic markets may exist in India, but they are > not > developed or targetable by means that anyone can think of (at least not > reliably so). So, backyard bulbs would have to be shipped out of the > country and even if shipping costs were not prohibitive there is the > problem > of extra costs from phytosanitary certificates. Taken together, all the > factors do not suggest putting 2-4 years into bulb growing without a well > defined market. > > Thanks to all of you who wrote to me privately and discussed the pros and > cons. > > > > Cordially, > > Joe > > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php >