Reducing Postharvest Losses
In the OIC Member Countries
6
supply of these foods for many years (e.g. wheat in Egypt). The evidence would suggest that
high subsidy is often associated with fraudulent activity, price inflation and inefficiencies.
With only very limited exception, we found that research and practice in the postharvest field
in OIC Member Countries had not been gendered.
Common solutions identified during the research
Some solutions mentioned in the literature and by respondents to the survey and case studies
include:
On-farm.
 Breeding for postharvest qualities (e.g., storability)
 Early quality differentiation (e.g., sorting for different uses/markets)
 Improved harvesting (e.g., use of standard in-field practices and clean containers)
 Collective drying/processing prior to sale
In chain.
 Incentives for better drying/sorting/cleaning
 Improved containers
 Improved collective and in-chain storage
 Awareness raising of loss causes
 Greater access to and use of mobile phone technologies
 Micro finance directed at promoting market efficiency (e.g., warehouse receipt
systems)
Systemic
 Clear and understood rules and standards
 Easily available and locally adapted capacity building and training tools.
 Traditional focus on productivity has overlooked how to address postharvest aspects
of food production.
Examples of best practice
 Supplying specific sensitive food chains e.g., the brewing sector often results in high
quality management along a chain and reduced overall postharvest losses. This shows
that ownership of postharvest losses by key private sector actors in value chains can
drive loss reduction.
 The degree to which new integrated computer technology (ICTs) can be used to reduce
postharvest losses of all kinds is, at present uncertain. Ideas identified include: give
warning about impending postharvest losses of stored vegetables through chemical
changes in store, sharing information about postharvest solutions using mobile
applications, using sensors to detect when household or village stores are full and need
emptying and identifying storage pests.
 In many cases, the analysis found that sectoral strategic investments or application of
seed grants can have a big impact on up-grading value chains and reducing
postharvest losses. Investment in cold-chain infrastructure is a good example of this
as is support to agribusinesses and supermarkets to improve the practices among their
suppliers. Uganda’s sector wide approach to small holder dairy upgrading with its
associated code of practice is an example of good approach.