Reducing On-Farm Food Losses
In the OIC Member Countries
77
Farm Farm Details Quality Sort
by Consultant
(% with
Extreme
Defects or
Decay)
Quality Sort
by Consultant
(% with
Moderate
Defects or
Decay)
Sold by the Bunch
Large = 20kg or more
Medium = 18 kg
Small = 15 kg or less
Market Value
3
Plantains
20 acres
Bananas, beans,
watermelon,
cabbages, coffee
20% 10% 20% large = $2.80, 50%
medium= $ 2.30,
30% small =$ 1.40
4
Plantains
55 acres
Bananas, beans,
maize, coffee,
cabbages, cassava
5% 15% 20% large = $3.40, 50%
medium= $ 2.30,
30% small =$ 1.40
5
Bananas
(dessert)
18 acres
Bananas, beans,
coffee, sweet
potatoes, tomatoes,
maize
5% 15% Ripened on farm,
handled in woven
baskets.
25% large = $0.60, 55%
medium= $ 0.40,
20% small =$ 0.30
6
Plantains
30 acres
Bananas, coffee,
tomatoes, beans,
cassava, cabbage
5% 30% 20% large = $3.00, 50%
medium= $ 2.30,
30% small =$ 1.40
Range: 0-20% 10-30% $ 0.30-$3.40
Conservative Estimate of On-Farm
Losses:
5% 15% $1.40
Source: Site Visits
Bananas are harvested all year around. None of the produce was pre-sorted at the time of
harvest. Generally, no discards are made unless the fruits are ripe as traders will not buy ripe
fruits. Market value is determined via the size of the bunch and its estimated weight. No
containers are used for the harvested fruits, and plantains are handled as bunches. Dessert
bananas are occasionally harvested, ripened and then the farmers will cut the fingers and stuff
them into a large woven sacks. Either way, there is a high level of physical damage done to the
fruits during harvesting from dropping bunches and handling as bunches are carried from the
field and then loaded or stacked.