Transcript Assessment of post harvest losses on fresh vegetables

A commodity system analysis to reduce post harvest
losses of vegetable
Realized by:
KODJOGBE Guy, Chantal Pali, Nana Fredua AGYEMAN, Marian ASAMOAH,
Christophe Kouame, Rosine Batchep, Benoit Gnonlonfin, Kerstin HELL,
Ousmane COULIBALY
Outline

Background

Commodity system analysis

Case study Benin, Ghana, Cameroon

Summary and Recommendations
Background
 Producing vegetables provides substantial
employment opportunities along the supply chain
 In Benin, vegetables production provides
employment for nearly 60,000 people (PADAPA, 2003)
 Gender involvement
Share of women (%) along the supply chain of Indigenous vegetable across 6 selected countries
Category
Benin
Cote
d’Ivoire
Senegal
Kenya
Tanzania Uganda
Farmers
40
16
14
59
34
17
Intermediaries
78
100
26
95
75
69
Retailers
100
100
58
86
58
68
Source: IndigenousVeg survey data, 2006
Background
Producing vegetable
is profitable
◦ Retailers earn > 1 $/d
Aledaya (Ipomea)
800
Dah (Hibiscus)
700
Daily earning

900
Kprala (Corchorus)
600
Epinard (Basella)
500
400
Brombrou (Amaranthus)
300
Winwin (Cleome)
200
Aloaya (Bean)
100
Cocoya (Colocasia)
0
Mahyao et al. 2006
Soko (Celosia)
1
Leafy Vegetable

Consuming vegetable
is good for Health
◦ High nutrient content
◦ Reduce non
transmissible diseases
Chou
Agbaya (Manihot)
Morelle
Fer
Calcium
Vit C
Vit A
Proteine
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Teneur en nutriment
Nutrient content of nightshade and cabbage
Background

Vegetables are highly
perishable


High losses before they can
reach the market
Improvement and
promotion of Post
harvest Technology is
critical to boost rural
economies
Commodity System Analysis Methodology





La Gra et al.1990
26 components
Each component is
potentially important
But not always relevant for
all commodities
Permits analysis of a whole
commodity systems
Requires multidisciplinary
team
Commodity System Analysis Methodology

La Gra et al. 1990
Causes of
losses at
different
points of
the system
Case study

Assessment of Post harvest losses of selected
vegetable crops
◦ Benin, Ghana, Cameroon
◦ Tomato, Pepper, Okra, leafy vegetables
◦ Determine the extent, types and core causes of
post-harvest losses
◦ Identify ways to cost effectively reduce losses
Case study

Focus group discussion: producers, traders, policy makers

Survey: Losses (physical and economic), causes and
destinations according producers (60) and traders (180)
perceptions

Lab analysis: Dilution method (speck, 1976): 30
samples/product/zone

Tracking samples: Recording temperature under shade
and temperature inside the baskets + daily weighting and
counting the samples
Assessment of post harvest losses

Causes of post-harvest losses of fresh
vegetables:
- use of auto-propagated seeds
- excessive use of fertilizer,
- poor irrigation system
- poor harvesting practices,
- supply exceeding demand
- Limited access to loan
- Handling: poor transport and storage
- Diseases and pests
Assessment leafy vegetable

Producers are aware
that quality of produce
is affected by:
◦
◦
◦
◦
Delay weeding
Water management
Fertilizer & pesticide use
Disease and pests
Assessment leafy vegetable
According to policy makers, cultural practices affect Quality
Seed quality
64%
purity, germination
Seed
availability
36%
supply not regular
Pests and
diseases
64%
important concern
57%
pesticides uses,
fertilization
Safe
production
Kouame et Gnononfin, 2009
Assessment leafy vegetable
Traders
 1- Transport & storage

◦ Delay
◦ Poor infrastrures (roads,
storage)

2- Poor access to
markets
◦ Mevente
◦ Supply>demand

3- Diseases and Pests
Assessment Post harvest losses
Types and major causes of Post harvest losses

Heating, yellowing,
weight loss
◦ Direct exposition to
sun
◦ Inadequate
ventilation during
packing, storage,
transportation

Physiological damages:
Softening,..
◦ Premature harvest
◦ Direct exposition to
soil
◦ Direct exposition to
rain
◦ Plastic packing
material
Assessment Post harvest losses
Types and major causes of Post harvest losses

Physical damages
◦ Packaging (large
bags)
◦ Overloading
(transportation)
◦ Inappropriate
packing materials
◦ Poor road conditions
Assessment of post harvest losses
Table 3 : Quantitative losses assessment in value chain (%)
Countries
Benin
Products
Collectors
Wholesalers
Retailers
Tomato
12
8
12
-
13
4
Lettuce
-
22
9
Tomato
2
45,62
39,75
fresh pepper
Fresh pepper
1.07
Ghana
1.51
Dried pepper
37.22
32.07
Lettuce
31.75
31.63
Okra
5.28
17.86
31.94
22.3
Assessment of post harvest losses
Table 7: Mycoflora occurrence on vegetables (CFU/g) in Benin
Fungi
Aspergillus niger
Aspergillus flavus
Rhizopus. stolonifer
Fusarium. verticilloides
Fusarium. prolifératum
Fusarium. oxysporum
Penicillium. citrinum
Penicillium. commune
Products
Grand-Popo&Come
Porto-Novo&Cotonou
Chilli pepper
Lettuce
Tomato
Chilli pepper
Lettuce
Tomato
Chilli pepper
Lettuce
Tomato
Chilli pepper
Lettuce
Tomato
Chilli pepper
Lettuce
Tomato
Chilli pepper
Lettuce
Tomato
Chilli pepper
Lettuce
Tomato
Chilli pepper
Lettuce
Tomato
98.33 ± 254.22
2.22± 16.61
91.95 ± 197.49
0
2.27 ± 10.47
0
222.22 ± 463.80
0
0
0
0
0
48.31 ± 164.36
0
2.22 ± 14.82
0
123.33 ± 1054.58
26.67 ± 57.18
1.67 ± 15.81
56.06 ± 169.90
0
21.11 ± 70.30
1501.11 ± 1875.55
377.22 ± 739.84
68.33 ± 310.71
34.44 ± 105.90
96.11± 191.86
2.25 ± 21.20
125.00 ± 616.68
45.00 ± 99.45
0
0
Assessment of post harvest losses
Table 8: Mycoflora occurrence on vegetables (CFU/g) in Accra (Ghana)
Products
Aspergillus
flavus
Aspergillus
niger
Aspergillus
ochraceus
Aspergillus
penicilloides
Fusarium
verticilloides
Fusarium
proliferatum
Penicillium
citrinum
Penicillium
spp
0
0
17.47±7.119
0
11.3±5.766
0.34±0.342
0
80.56±24.257
0
1.39±1.389
1.39±1.389
Fresh
pepper
108.56±30.023 91.44±16.048
Dried
pepper
30.56±13.255 27.78±8.320 23.61±14.704
Tomato
Lettuce
Okra
8.33±7.448
3.7±2.594
0
0
27.78±15.787
8.33±8.333
2.78±2.055
0
2.00±2.000
87.33±22.079
0.67+0.667
0
86.67±20.910 13.51±8.458
21.33±6.790
1.33±0.936
0.41±0.407
84.15±14.956
0
42.28±15.185 72.36±15.437
0
54.88±14.203 0.81±0.573
Assessment of post harvest losses
Tracking samples : tomato case
Tomato baskets weight and percent of spoiled tomatoes depend on display
temperature
Summary

Many ways in which
quality of fresh
product are affected
◦ Choice of variety
◦ Use of untreated
manure
◦ Harvesting practices
◦ Diseases & pests

Problem do not stop
at farm level
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
Poor packaging
Exposure to sun
Poor handling
Poor storage practices
Marketing
infrastructure
Summary

Post harvest losses are highest for tomato and
lettuce, up to 20% after 5 days

For Leafy vegetable, losses amount to 20% for
nightshade and Amaranth

Chilli pepper and okra are most infected by fungi:
risk of mycotoxicosis
Recommendations

Training of producers: appropriate use of
fertilizers and pesticides, marketing and
production planning methods

Invest in Infrastructure: transport, Storage

Promote simple Post-harvest technologies:
improve packing, provide shade, control pests
Recommendations

Improve access to high quality seeds and other
inputs

Improve access to credit for actors

Training traders on effective and efficient
transport or storage practices

Monitoring of mycotoxins and pesticides residues
Thank you