Reducing On-Farm Food Losses
In the OIC Member Countries
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In Egypt, viruses can reduce tomato harvests by 60-70%. Sunburn damages fruits and vegetables
and can reduce harvestable yield by 15-30%. Losses of oranges were due to defects, with 21%
missing the calyx and more than 30% suffering from insect damage (Salama, et al 2015), while
in Morocco, olives that escape fruit fly infestation are harvested by beating the branches. These
beatings cause injury, making them vulnerable to mold attack during transport and storage. The
losses caused by beating, fruit flies andmoldmay be as much as 30%, and also result in increased
oil acidity that reduces nutritional quality (Bounfour 2015).
Kamrul Hassan et al (2010) surveyed losses in many different types of fruits and vegetables in
Bangladesh, and reported losses ranging from 23.6-43.5%; for mangoes, harvesting losses alone
were reported to be 3.5%. For litchi fruits, a survey reported losses of 8% at harvest, 4.6%
during handling and 7.5% by the consumer for a total of about 20% (Molla et al 2010). AVRDC
conducted loss assessments in Bangladesh during 2014-15 and reported that quantitative
postharvest loss of tomato and eggplant was around 26% and 20% of the total harvested
quantity respectively. The qualitative loss occurred in 7% and 6.5% of the harvested tomato
along the postharvest chain for tomato and eggplant respectively, with the highest loss at the
farmer’s level. In Bangladesh, farmers incurred the highest postharvest loss, followed by
wholesalers, while retailers and collectors experienced the least (Gautam et al 2015).
Recent loss assessments undertaken by WFLO and Winrock International for vegetables in
Bangladesh reported 1% losses for hot chilies, 8-15% harvesting losses for cabbage, and 10-
12% harvesting losses for cauliflower due to rough practices and leaving the produce in direct
sun after harvest (Cold Chain Alliance Bangladesh, 2014). In neighboring Pakistan, Zulfiqar et al
(2005) reported on losses in tomatoes at 22% and onions at 9%.
According to Craig et al (2015), postharvest losses of fresh table ripe mangoes in Guyana at
harvesting were 15%. At display and sale, losses measured at 17%, making total losses for fresh
mango 32%, with total economic loss estimated at US$902,000. Additionally, postharvest losses
of tomatoes were 34% with losses at harvesting, packinghouse and marketing at 11%, 10.5%
and 12.5% respectively. Estimated total economic loss was US$7.9 million.
In Iraq, lack of specific knowledge and technical expertise in harvesting, sorting and packing
leads to on-farm losses of tomatoes and vegetable crops. Unsuitable harvesting times and
conditions also contribute (Key informant, College of Agriculture, University of Baghdad).