Reducing On-Farm Food Losses
In the OIC Member Countries
108
Meats and Eggs
Lack of storage facilities was cited by the key informants as the highest cause of on-farm losses.
Also lack of proper processing and packing lead to losses, in many countries packaging material
and processing facilities do not exist. The third reason for losses is poor temperature
management which is also related to the two above loss reasons, most traditional markets and
open air trading facilities in OIC have little facilities for temperature control.
Milk and Dairy
Lack of proper storage facilities and poor temperature management were cited as the reason for
the highest losses in milk and dairy. These are actually related since temperature management
during storage of milk and dairy products is crucial to reducing losses. Furthermore, key
informants stated that delays in transport and distribution were leading to high on-farm losses
in these products.
Fish and Seafood
Similarly, for fish and seafood poor temperature management was cited as highest reason for
losses. This is further compounded by the lack of proper food processing and packaging. Delays
in transport and distribution were also raised by the key informants.
4.1.8. Summary of Pre-Harvest, Harvest and Other Causes of On-Farm Losses
Pre-harvest Causes of Food Losses
1. Small-scale farmers represent the majority of food suppliers to the supply chain and
market channels which causes improper planning for suitable continuous production to
cover the whole fresh or processing seasons, large variations in production practices as
well as productivity and quality, and a difficulty in using machinery for planting, crop
management or harvesting. Small farmers usually have limited resources, and lack
needed infrastructure and marketing channels for distribution.
2. Production site is remote from market or processing plants leading to higher transport
costs and increased chances to quantitative and qualitative losses especially when
transporting the fresh produce on unpaved roads, in unsuitable containers and/or
trucks, and under high temperature and low relative humidity conditions.
3. Choice of crop type is usually based on personal opinion for expected profitability
without conducting market study or contracting with a buyer to ensure profitability
which may lead to reduced crop price or loss of whole crop at farm gate due to high
harvest costs during peak production time.
4. Lack of education, training and access to good agricultural practices in production.
5. Growers are vulnerable to unexpected climate changes due to lack of suitable equipment
for weather prediction and early warning system.
6. Decisions on production practices are made in most cases by guesswork and site-
specific experience due to lack of science-based extension services.
7. Planting genotypes in unfavorable environmental conditions and/or using unhealthy
plant material leading to death of plant material, germination problems, weak growth
or poor quality.
8. Over or under irrigation regimes resulting in increased disease or pest level, decreased
productivity, quality and postharvest shelf life.