Reducing On-Farm Food Losses
In the OIC Member Countries
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 Broiler meat in Turkey revealed an estimated 4% of on-farm losses corresponding to
between US$80-88 million. The lost food could have provided enough protein nutrition
for 625,000 persons for a full year at 50 grams per day.
 Fish and shrimp in Indonesia are estimated at losses of 5%, which have been evaluated
at US$103.5. This amount of lost fish and shrimp could have supplied the protein needs
for 75,500 persons for a full year at 50 grams per day.
Section 4 elaborates on the causes and consequences of on-farm food losses and evaluates their
implications on production, use, food security, and the environment. Across the six food groups,
common causes cited include pests, poor water management or drought, lack of proper storage
facilities, poor harvesting practices, poor cultural practices (pruning, fertilizing, and pesticide
spraying), lack of proper processing and packaging, poor information and planning, poor
temperature management, and delays in transport or distribution. On farm food losses can have
significant impacts on production leading to lost revenue, lower yields and waste of resources,
consumption, food security, the environment, and food safety.
Section 5 presents on the current resources available to OIC Member Countries for reducing on-
farm losses. Traditionally 95% of agricultural research and extension efforts have targeted
production aimed at increasing yields and reducing on-farm food losses via improved
seeds/planting materials, cultivation practices, fertilization, irrigation, pest management and
sustainable production practices. Ongoing efforts to reduce food losses are united throughmany
global and regional alliances, along with existing educational opportunities to build capacity via
formal and informal approaches, use of modern internet communications including internet
based telephone calls and outreach programs using mobile devices. It is suggested to form an
OIC Member Countries Working Group on on-farm loss reduction to coordinate future efforts.
Policy recommendations are proposed in Section 6 with collaborative solutions to reduce on-
farm food losses. Several serious pests contribute to significant on farm losses and require
additional research and resources in the coming year. Furthermore, large scale training
programs are needed for all stakeholders across all value chains on how to reduce food losses.
Lastly, advocacy is needed inform policy makers and investors on the benefit of reducing on-
farm losses by investing in infrastructure, providing access to inputs, credit and capacity
building, regulating contracting practices, and strengthening producer groups.
The study has seven recommendations to reduce on-farm losses in the OIC countries:
 Close Knowledge and Data Gap. Implement studies in each OIC Member Country to
collect data and identify specific causes of on-farm losses for key crops.
 Upgrade Food Supply Chains. Connect farmers to output markets to reduce on-farm
food losses and provide higher income for farmers in the OIC Member countries.
 Build Technical and Training Capacity. Address gaps in the technical and training
capacity of on-farm food loss researchers and extension specialists.