Reducing On-Farm Food Losses
In the OIC Member Countries
21
Table 2.4: Literature Review on On-Farm Losses for Cereals
Countries Maize Rice Sorghum Millet Wheat Notes
APHLIS Africa 4–8% harvesting losses
for cereals
Bangladesh 1-6.5% Includes drying, on-farm
and storage
Cameroon 14% Includes shattering and
field stacking for drying
Iran 0.5-2%
Tajikistan 4.3%
Turkey 9.1% Includes spillage during
on-farm loading
Uganda 4%
Range 0.5–4% 1-14% 4.3-9.1%
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.
2.1.2. Roots and Tubers: Cassava, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Yams
Harvest wounds during digging is the most common cause of damage and on-farm losses for
roots and tubers. It is easy to damage root and tuber crops when digging, especially when using
large hand tools or mechanical harvesters such as lifters. The produce can be cut or broken,
leaving wounds that provide easy access for disease organisms. Harvesting losses for cassava
tend to be higher during the dry season because it is more difficult to dig; roots break and remain
in the soil. For these products, wounds and bruises are the triggers of primary deterioration
(vascular streaking with blue-black or brownish occlusions and chemical deposits). In fact, for
most root and tuber crops, decay organisms are wound pathogens and will infect the crop via
the sites of an injury. Root and tuber processing losses are typical during small-scale root crop
processing, including estimates for washing (0-5%), sorting (5-50%), slicing/dicing (5-10%),
packaging (0-10%) and rejection (0-5%) (UNIDO 2004).
Affognon et al. (2014) reviewed more than 130 documents on postharvest losses in Africa, and
reported summary findings the following root and tuber crops:
 Cassava: 23.5% +/- 20 average losses in 9 documents
 Yams: 41.6% +/- 10.3 average losses in 7 documents
 Sweetpotatoes: 43.6% +/- 27.4 average losses in 6 documents
 Potatoes: 21.6% +/- 7.5 average losses in 3 documents