Reducing Postharvest Losses
In the OIC Member Countries
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In Côte d'Ivoire research is reported on the use different thicknesses of polyethylene bags to
prolong postharvest shelf-life of plantain (Yao et al., 2014).
In Uganda, postharvest losses are higher in the high production season than in the low
production season. The major causes of physical losses at farm level are theft and ripening,
while causes of economic losses are mainly selling of immature bananas, followed by poor
harvesting methods and ripening. Selling immature bananas is attributed to the high demand
in the market that cannot be met by the available farm production during scarcity. The
postharvest losses across the value chain are high and thus require various interventions to
considerably reduce them. At times of scarcity, physical losses affect about 3.3% and economic
losses 5.4% of bananas. The average residual value is estimated at about UGSh 7,500 - a bunch
that would have been sold at UGX 10,000 is sold at UG shillings 7,500 due to quality
deterioration. During the surplus season, physical losses were estimated at 9.6%, while
economic losses affect approximately 8.1% of banana with a residual value of about UGSh
2,300 per bunch (Nalunga et al., 2015).
Tomatoes (Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt,
Gambia, Iran (Islamic Rep. of), Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco,
Nigeria, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan)
Tomatoes (along with fresh beans) are a significant vegetables for the Turkish domestic
market because of their use in traditional Turkish dishes, and for export. Poor harvest and
postharvest practices result in losses due to spoiling of the product before reaching the
market, as well as quality losses such as deterioration in appearance, taste and nutritional
value. A survey of 92 tomato farmers in Tokat province, Turkey (Buyukbay et al., 2011)
indicated that advanced techniques in tomato harvesting and marketing were not known by
the farmers nor were they aware of to what degree a difference could be made using the
currently used and alternative techniques. They were found to be uninformed and equipped
about how they could do it. Development of special projects including training for especially
harvest and postharvest operations were recommended.
A survey conducted in Malaysia to identify postharvest handling activities that were practised,
the potential postharvest activities that can be carried out, and the factors contributing to
postharvest losses found that packaging (24%) had the highest potential of reducing
postharvest losses. A majority of farmers did not perform potential postharvest handling
activities mainly due to insufficient knowledge.
In Azerbaijan, the fruit and vegetable sector is considered to lack fundamental expertise in
regards to postharvest handling of their crops though growing affluence of the domestic
population is considered likely to increase demand for safe and quality products (Bledsoe and
Dan Cruz-DePaula, 2009).
In Brunei Darussalam, tomatoes are largely imported. In Burkina Faso there is a huge trade in
tomatoes with Ghana. Improvements in packaging and transport systems are needed to reduce
losses (van Wesenbeeck et al., 2014).
In Uzbekistan, people impacted by postharvest loss are producers and processors.
Governments generally do not collect this sort of data. Private enterprises involved in the cold
chain for perishable commodities collect data but only on their own operations. Minimal
sharing is practiced unless a dispute arises on the origin of damage. Time series and cross-
section data (i.e. panel data) on temperatures and relative humidity for produce and products
by control point could be collected, trends analysed, weak links identified and corrected, and
results shared to reduce spoilage and loss all along the cold chain.