Reducing On-Farm Food Losses
In the OIC Member Countries
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Other factors affecting quality include:
 Rodent damage;
 Cuts and bruises from rough harvesting (see Figure. 3.7);
 Rots;
 No curing on farm before sale (increased scuffing damage, abrasions);
 Use of very large packages (100kg sacks); and
 Lack of shade during the day between harvest and sale at the farm gate.
3.2.4. Measures and Strategies Implemented for On-Farm Loss Reduction in Nigeria
Relevant institutes in Nigeria include the IITA, a member of the Consultative Group for
International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and National Root Crop Research Institute (NRCRI)
located at Umudike, Umahia in Nigeria. NRCRI aims at the development of new sweet potato
varieties with desirable attributes and the development or improvement of agronomic packages
that will enhance sweet potato cultivars and largely contribute to the agricultural/food economy
of the nation. The programme has the national mandate of genetic improvement of sweet potato
productions, generation of improved production packages that will sustain high yields,
formulation of disease and pest control strategies, and development of post-harvest
technologies and extension of findings to end-users through established channels (NRCRI,
2015). Other relevant institutions include Agricultural Development Programs (ADPs) and the
Roots and Tubers Expansion Programme (RTEP).
Yellow and orange fleshed sweet potatoes are promoted in West Africa and East Africa by
several international donor agencies including the International Potato Center (CIP), Helen
Keller International, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), and USAID, as they are a
good source of Vitamin A. Burri et al. (2011) recently reported on “Evaluating sweet potato as
an intervention food to prevent vitamin A deficiency.” Sweet potato is generally a more
important source of income for women than for men as the latter generate higher earnings from
crops such as yam and rice which have resource requirements, notably labor, more amenable to
men. The lower labor requirements of sweet potato, coupled with its short maturity time and
the possibility of growing it at least twice a year, make the crop an attractive option for women
farmers seeking income earning opportunities (David and Madu 2014).
3.2.5. Lessons Learned from the Case Study
This case study revealed a number of lessons that could be applied to improve the quality of
sweetpotatoes in Nigeria, and more broadly in other countries.
Pay attention to harvest indices (days from planting) for optimum quality and yield.
 Provide improved pest control for insects and rodents if roots are left in the field after
full maturity.
 Gently harvest and dig roots and tuber crops to prevent physical damage.
 Avoid rough handling after harvest; do not step on or sit on heaps of harvested crops.
 Provide shade for harvested crops during transport delays from field to market.
 Streamline the value chain to decrease delays in transport from the farm.