Reducing On-Farm Food Losses
In the OIC Member Countries
54
Farm Farm
Details
Sorted
During
Harvest
Quality Sort by
Consultant
(Extreme Defects
or Decay)
Quality Sort by
Consultant
(Moderate Defects
or Decay)
Sorted for Size (%
Discarded by
Trader at Farm
Gate
3 1.3 ha
Sweet-
potatoes
2% 15% 30% 10% large
25% medium
65% small
0% discards
4 0.75 ha
Sweet-
potatoes
1% 20% 30% 5% large
30% medium
65% small
0% discards
5 1.5 ha
Sweet-
potatoes
1% 5% 10% 20% medium
80% small
0% discards
6 1.95 ha
Sweet-
potatoes
1% 5% 10% 12% large
88% small
Range: 1-2% sorted out and discarded; 5-20% with extreme defects and decay.
Conservative estimate of on-farm losses: 2-5%.
Source: Site Visits and Interviews Conducted During Assessment
Sweetpotatoes are harvested a day before being sold in the market, beginning in the early
morning. As a result, farmers harvest only what they expect to sell at the farm gate. The
remaining tubers are left in situ until the previous harvest have been sold off. Harvest is manual,
using hoes and cutlasses at maturity, and while typical farmers can employ hired labour, they
usually rely on family members as most farms are small. Women involved in cultivation and
harvesting with harvested tubers placed in woven baskets and later packaged mostly with sacks
made from polypropylene materials. Two varieties of sweetpotatoes were common as pictured
below.
Figure 3.3: Sweetpotato Varieties with White Flesh and Yellow or Purple-Skin
Photo Source: Site Visits