Postharvest management in Sub-Saharan Africa – FAO/IFAD/WFP

For most countries in Africa and notably the low-income/food-deficit countries, postharvest losses (PHL) are often a forgotten yet important factor that exacerbates food insecurity. A recent study (FAO, 2011) estimated food losses of 120-170 kg per capita and year for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) with 40% of the losses occurring at post-harvest and processing stage. Of even greater significance are qualitative PHL which take the form of reduced revenues due to quality and market opportunity losses.

Improved food security and income generation opportunities through reduction of food losses in supported food grains and pulses value chains of smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The primary target group (direct clients) are:

1. smallholder farming households and rural communities in food deficit areas of the three pilot countries;
2. national, regional and local governments and policy makers;
3. bi- and multilateral partners, including regional institutions/ organisations.

1. civil society organizations;
2. national and international research and development and training institutions, including universities;
3. private sector actors;
4. other development partners which are all considered as “change agents” in terms of improved PHM.

1. Good practice options for reducing postharvest losses are compiled, disseminated and scaled up.
2. Improved handling and storage options within the grains and pulses value chains are benefitting smallholder farmers in pilot countries.
3. Appropriate policy and regulatory frameworks on reducing postharvest losses in food supply chains are introduced and implemented at national and regional levels and financing is secured.

Results from previous phases:  

Scoping studies in each of the three pilot countries (Burkina Faso, DR Congo and Uganda) confirmed the need to support food loss reduction, revealing a number of major constraints that impede effective postharvest management (PHM). Among the most important are:

• Lack of awareness of the relevance of PHL at institutional levels, gaps in policy and regulatory frameworks and weak implementation;
• Limited access to markets (transport, distribution) and information;
• Inappropriate or harmful conservation methodologies;
• Weak institutional and community capacity on effective PHM.

Phase 1 01.09.2012 - 31.05.2017   (Completed)