Reducing Postharvest Losses
In the OIC Member Countries
78
On average weight losses reported were 21% on Cereals, 50% on Fish and Seafood products,
38% on Fruits and Vegetables, 20% on Meat and Meat products, 30% on Milk and Dairy
products, 37.5% on Oilseeds and Pulses, and 25% on Roots and Tubers. The wetter the
product the more difficult to transport and maintain, the more it required specific refrigeration
and cooling conditions. The drier the easier to maintain for longer periods; however
contamination (e.g. insects, extraneous matter) can cause major losses on dried commodities
such as cereals, oilseeds and pulses.
Qualitative data on the causes, mitigation and constraints gave some insight on the way
forward to further reduce postharvest losses in OIC countries: postharvest handling and
processing of food commodities requires knowledge and hence training according to the
respondents of the survey. Investment in more advanced equipment (processing or storage)
was also mentioned. Good road infrastructure is a major factor for the limitation of PHLs.
There are large gaps in knowledge for many countries and products. In order to conduct a
more quantitative analysis, more respondents would have been needed to complete the online
survey. Determining the level of PHL in terms of quantitative loss (weight) and value loss
(economic) requires an in-depth study and in-countries value chain field observations are
necessary since the values reported by respondents can easily be biased without access to field
measurement.