Reducing On-Farm Food Losses
In the OIC Member Countries
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2. OVERVIEW OF ON-FARM LOSSES IN THE OIC
This chapter presents data on food losses and waste in the OIC Member Countries and the
relative importance of on-farm losses. The data was collected based on a full literature review,
key informant surveys in the OIC member countries and follow-ups via e-mail and Linked-In.
These sources provided the data for describing the current status of information on estimates
of on-farm losses in the OIC Member Countries.
2.1 Estimates for Food Losses and Waste for the OIC Member Countries
Respondents provided information on food losses and waste for 30 of the OICmember countries.
This includes 21 informants from Africa, 17 informants from the Arab world and 26 informants
from Asia with 9 or 10 countries in each group represented. The countries include most of the
major food producing countries and those with higher populations (above 20million). This table
reflects only a few major differences between the analytical study and FAO global estimates
when broken out into the FAO regions and the OIC Member Country Groups.
Assessed loss percentages reported for most of the commodity groups in the Arab and Asian
Groups were similar to but generally lower than those reported by FAO in 2011, including
estimates based on 2009 and earlier data. Estimations by key informants for the Arab group,
with the exception of meats and dairy, were lower than FAO estimates. Estimations by key
informants of the losses for roots and tubers, oilseeds and pulses and fruits and vegetables were
lower for the Asian group. It is possible that food losses have been decreasing due to the renewed
global focus on reducing food losses and waste since 2011.
Table 2.1: Average Ratings on a Scale of 1-5 for Food Groups by Key Informants
Analytical Study Findings
Food Group Arab Group Asian Group African Group
Cereals 3 3 3
Roots and Tubers 3 3 4
Oilseeds and Pulses 2 2 3
Fruits and Vegetables 4 4 4
Meat and Dairy 3 3 3
Fish and Seafood 2 3 3
Source: Key Informant Surveys.
Rating Scale: 1= 0-5%; 2= 5-10%; 3= 10-30%; 4=30-50%; 5= 50-100%