Reducing Postharvest Losses
In the OIC Member Countries
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With crops that have high fatty acid content such as sesame, another problem that can occur is
rancidity of the crop. Ways to mitigate those losses were listed i
Table 31: Mitigation of PHLs reported for oilseed and pulses and per step of postharvest
Postharvest step Cowpeas Sesame seed
Harvesting Improvement of harvest techniques Mechanical harvest
Threshing/ shelling Development and extension of appropriate
shelling technologies
-
Storage Extension and development of appropriate
storage technologies
-
Improved technologies (harvesting, shelling, and storage) and mechanisation were suggested
as the ways to reduce PHLs in oilseed and pulses. Some constraints were however stated
.
Table 32: Constraints to reducing PHLs reported for oilseed and pulses and per step of
Postharvest
Postharvest step Cowpeas Sesame seed
Harvesting Availability and accessibility of appropriate
technologies- Use of mechanic harvest by low
income farmers
Early harvest before
shattering
Threshing/ shelling Availability and accessibility of appropriate
technologies- Use of traditional threshing
-
Storage Availability and accessibility of appropriate
technologies
-
The availability and accessibility of the technologies is a main constraint and this would be
related to the lack of capital of farmers in these countries (Sudan and Burkina Faso).
Investment would be needed to reduce PHLs in oilseed and pulses according to the
respondents.
3.6. Fruits and Vegetables
Respondents (19) selected ‘fruits and vegetables’ as a commodity they have experience in and
answered questions. The respondents had experience in various OIC countries: Africa (Egypt,
Nigeria, Uganda, and Cameroon), Asia (Pakistan, Tajikistan), Middle-East (Lebanon, Bahrain).
The commodities quoted were also diverse: banana, dates, grapes, mangoes, tomatoes, berries,
apricot etc. Main products were fresh vegetables and fruits, fruit juice and dried fruits (mango,
apricot). By-products reported were apple vinegar, pulp, seed/pip/husks, and skins.
The percentage of final product lost by weight in the postharvest value chain for Fruits and
vegetables is presented i