Reducing Postharvest Losses
In the OIC Member Countries
97
Location Fresh root
(own
consumption)
Gari Fufu
involved in the gari
processing
 Horizontal coordination:
presence of women gari
processor associations
 Processing close to FCR
production area
 FCR transported over
relatively short distances in
comparison to processed
products
of women fufu processor associations
 Processing close to FCR production
area
 FCR transported over relatively
short distances in comparison to
processed products
Extent of
losses
-  Minimal physical losses of
FCR (0.5%)
 During transport up to
2% breakage
 Broken FCR sold at
discounted price
 Minimal physical losses of FCR
(0.5%)
 During transport up to
2% breakage
 Broken FCR sold at discounted price
Processing Causes of
losses
-  Poor state of roads
 Delays in transport
 Poor state of roads
 Delays in transport
Mitigation
measures
-  Just in time procurement
of FCR
 FCR processed as much as
possible immediately after
delivery
 Processing close to FCR
production area
 Packaged in
polypropylene packs
 Just in time procurement of FCR
 FCR processed as much as possible
immediately after delivery
 Processing close to FCR production
area
 Packaged in polypropylene packs
 Recent development towards dry
instant fufu sold in supermarkets (up
to 6 month shelf life) but still
marginal
Extent of
losses
-  Minimal physical losses of
FCR (1%)
 Negligible losses of
processed product
 Minimal physical losses of FCR (1%)
 Negligible losses of processed
product
Retail and
consumpti
on
Causes of
losses
-  Pests
 Lack of storage facilities
 Packs breakages
 Pests
 Lack of storage facilities
 Packs breakages
Mitigation
measures
-  Packed in polyethylene
packs
 Well packaged gari (up to
6 month shelf life)
 Availability of shelters in
the open markets
 Packed in polyethylene packs
 Recent development towards dry
instant fufu sold in supermarkets (up
to 6 month shelf life) but still
marginal
 Availability of shelters in the open
markets
Extent of
losses
-  Negligible losses of
processed product
 Negligible losses of processed
product
Where: FCR = Fresh cassava root
4.2.4. Measures and Strategies Implemented for Postharvest Loss Reduction
Many of the causes of postharvest losses of cassava in Nigeria can be addressed through
raising greater awareness of the level of losses and situations where they occur, the causes of
the losses, well-known options and actions for addressing and reducing these losses (such as
those shown in (Table 46), and changes to the enabling environment. Postharvest innovation
systems are complex and dynamic, bringing many different activities, actors, sectors and goals
together. Using an innovation systems perspective can help to examine technological and
institutional change as a complex process of interactions among diverse actors engaged in