Reducing Postharvest Losses
In the OIC Member Countries
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Feed losses. Extreme aridity in Oman causes drying of feed ingredients and feed stock in-store.
Feed purchased at 12% moisture can quickly lose weight. Feed storage losses also occur, but
are unmeasured.
Feed quality. Food safety, additives, toxins etc. The Omani feed industry is not strictly
regulated. Levels of toxins such as aflatoxin or pesticide residue are not known. Addition of
anti-biotics is common practice and largely unregulated. The degree to which this constrains
production or impact on animal or human health is unclear.
4.5.4. Measures and Strategies Implemented for Postharvest Loss Reduction
The single most important area of postharvest loss in the Omani red meat sector is through
domestic slaughter. By promoting use of 5 th quarter and valorisation of hides and skins, Oman
could reduce waste, raise public health standards and add value to existing production (and
imports).
Very little is known or understood about postharvest losses in Oman, particularly in the
strategic livestock sector. Currently, postharvest losses are not included strategic plans for the
agricultural sector. Increase awareness of postharvest losses at government, private sector
and farmer levels through research, awareness and supporting pilot innovations would be
very worthwhile.
Oman would benefit from quantification of its key postharvest losses in the livestock sector.
With more detailed data, new policies could be set to encourage behaviour change at key value
chain loci.
4.5.5. Lessons Learned from the Case Study
Sale at optimal weight, condition and market price is a difficult challenge for Omani farmers
and one that they are currently not particularly interested in due to price fixing and the sub-
economic scale of production (many farmers are part-time)
It was noticeable that nobody in Oman could agree who should take responsibility for
postharvest losses. This highlights the finding that successfully identifying and tackling
postharvest losses requires multi-agency coordination.
The concept of postharvest losses in the livestock sector is a hard one to explain. With the
exception of mortality, most of the cost of postharvest loss is subsumed into the final consumer
price. As this is fixed in Oman, losses are all born by the farmer or chain actor. Great education
of policy makers and promotion of research into the area would help.