Reducing On-Farm Food Losses
In the OIC Member Countries
20
of rain at needed growing period, damage to plants during cultivation, pests and diseases, and
mechanical errors in harvesting/machine operations. Additionally, 4% losses were estimated
due to spillage during loading on farm (Tatlıdil et al, 2013).
Table 2.3: Literature Review on Cereals Losses
Countries Maize Rice Sorghum Millet Wheat Cereals
APHLIS Africa 10-20%
Burkina Faso 6–24%
Benin 25.5% 25.6%
Bangladesh 27%
Cameroon 14%
Iran 0.5-2%
Mali 20-30% 10-15% 2-15%
Mozambique 18.4% 11.2% 12.6% 11.1%
Nigeria 20%
Nigeria 50%
Sierra Leone 5%
Tajikistan 11%
Turkey 9.1
Uganda 24%
Range 0.5–30% 5-27% 2-15% 11.1% 9.1-11% 10-50%
Source: International Rice Commission, 2002; FAO, 2009; Bala et al., 2010; Asadi et al., 2010; World Bank, 2011;
Tatlıdil et al., 2013; Affognon et al., 2014; Ndindeng et al., 2015; AGRA, 2013; Ileleji et al., 2009; Muyinza et al., 2015;
Nabieva 2015; APHLIS.
When the same data set for cereals is summarized again for the on-farm losses in production
and harvesting, there is a lot less information to report, and the reported range of on-farm losses
are relatively low. Published reports of on-farm losses for cereals are available for only a single
study on six OIC Member Countries: Bangladesh (rice), Cameroon (rice), Iran (maize), Tajikistan
(wheat), Turkey (wheat) and Uganda (maize). Overall, the limited information on on-farm losses
for cereals crops in the OIC Member Countries shows a range of losses that are much lower than
FAO estimates.