Reducing On-Farm Food Losses
In the OIC Member Countries
110
b. Direct sun exposure during on-farm handling and delays can lead to rapid
deterioration and moisture increase
6. Delays between harvesting and marketing
a. Harvested crop remains in a heap or stack while awaiting loading and transport
from the farm
b. Crops, animals or dairy products are exposed to heat and direct sunlight during
delays
Other Causes
In addition, the 64 key informants surveyed and interviewed for this analytical study reported
on a wide range of on-farm causes of losses. Some of these causes are managerial in nature:
 Inadequate planning and information;
 Lack of needed agricultural infrastructure;
 Lack of awareness of technology options; and
 Lack of knowledge, education and training.
Other causes are technical in nature:
 Poor seed, poor quality planting material or poor quality fish or shrimp fry;
 Inappropriate cultivation practices;
 Inadequate pest and disease management;
 Poor water management; and
 Inappropriate harvesting practices.
An FAO synthesis report on food losses and waste in Europe and Central Asian countries
introduced a new classification system (Koester et al 2013). The causes of losses are classified
into six different categories, each of which relates to levels of types of on-farm losses found for
different foods and in different countries:
1. Inadequate technology
2. Specific consumer preferences
3. High opportunity costs
4. Worldwide trends
5. High transaction costs
6. Education
The economic consequences of on-farm food losses can be extremely high. With a simplified
summary of the case study findings and just a few examples from the major crops and countries
covered in the literature reviews, Table 4.9 present the range and scope of the economics of on-
farm losses in the OIC Countries.