Reducing On-Farm Food Losses
In the OIC Member Countries
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Damage to sweetpotatoes occurred from rodent bites, cuts or bruised roots, broken roots,
circular rot, sunburn, and infected termite bites. Defects included misshapen roots, knotted
roots, and very small roots.
The price offered for sweetpotatoes was based on volume. The weight was not measured but the
roots were sorted into small and large categories and placed into a 50kg rice sack, filled to the
top. Minimal sorting occurs to remove the rotten tubers, although many tubers with disease, rot,
or injured roots were left to be sold within the lot. The roots packed in the sack heat up due to
respiration. Farms received prices ranging from N1500-N2000 per bag, with no differentiation
between large and small roots. The consultant estimated the bags to weigh about 80-100kg,
which made the price equal to $10 per 100kg. (200 Naira = US$1).
Figure 3.4: Unwashed Harvested Roots, Packed into Used Rice Sacks
Photo Source: On-Farm Visits.
Figure 3.5: Buyers at Farm Gate Re-Grading Roots after Purchase from Farmers
Source: On-Farm Visits.
With a conservative estimate of on-farm physical losses of 2-5% and total annual production of
3.45 million tonnes in Nigeria, the losses experienced by sweetpotato growers is in the range of
69,000 to 172,000 tonnes per year. Damage and defects are reflected in the offered prices, so the
farm gate value of sweetpotatoes tends to be low. At an average farm gate value of $87.50-$100