1 min
In the 21st century, it is disheartening that post harvest loss is still a major challenge to food produce in developing countries and yet to be addressed especially the loss that occurs between transporting and the market (specifically for fresh foods). This is as a result of lack of basic storage infrastructure that can help increase the shelf life of our food and the limitations of the markets (our purchasing power is low even when our population is increasing).
Sadly, the market cannot absolve the volume of food we are producing at once (rainfed farming), and thus affect the supply chain. The situation is becoming more alarming as this loss contributes to the increase in food prices and loss of revenue for the actors involved.
In addition, we produce the largest chunk of our food during the rainy season (rainfed farming), which is susceptible to high post harvest loss (due to high humidity) and sadly, we neither have adequate storage infrastructure nor capacity to preserve our food till the dry season or when the produce becomes scarce. There is always the urgency to sell off produce (especially for fresh food). This is a major challenge. Every year, we face scarcity of food produce which distorts our food system and has a adverse impact on achieving food security. We need to change this narrative moving forward.
There is a need to salvage our food system by establishing more efficient storage facilities across the country. Not only the facility that can store dried produce but facilities that can preserve and elongate the shelf life of fresh produce (such as tomato, pepper, onions etc) that are required in large volume all through the year. Also, we need to support our market structures through incentives that help actors to remain in business in case of any external shocks. In other words, we need to build more resilience in our marketing system. During glut, it is easier for the government to buy and keep in established storage facilities, which helps the market and reduces their losses at the retail stage.
In conclusion, having a sustainable supply chain is a holistic approach that helps all the actors on the value chain: so that no one is left behind. The ripple effects of distortion of any actor affect the supply chain. So, addressing the issue of post harvest loss and food waste must consider the root causes and provide support to address, monitor and sustain them to achieve growth. Food security is everyone's business as hunger is not a respect of any person. We need to work together to ensure that post harvest loss becomes a part of our food system. Today is the best time to start!
Yours-in-Service
Babatunde
In addition, we produce the largest chunk of our food during the rainy season (rainfed farming), which is susceptible to high post harvest loss (due to high humidity) and sadly, we neither have adequate storage infrastructure nor capacity to preserve our food till the dry season or when the produce becomes scarce. There is always the urgency to sell off produce (especially for fresh food). This is a major challenge. Every year, we face scarcity of food produce which distorts our food system and has a adverse impact on achieving food security. We need to change this narrative moving forward.
There is a need to salvage our food system by establishing more efficient storage facilities across the country. Not only the facility that can store dried produce but facilities that can preserve and elongate the shelf life of fresh produce (such as tomato, pepper, onions etc) that are required in large volume all through the year. Also, we need to support our market structures through incentives that help actors to remain in business in case of any external shocks. In other words, we need to build more resilience in our marketing system. During glut, it is easier for the government to buy and keep in established storage facilities, which helps the market and reduces their losses at the retail stage.
In conclusion, having a sustainable supply chain is a holistic approach that helps all the actors on the value chain: so that no one is left behind. The ripple effects of distortion of any actor affect the supply chain. So, addressing the issue of post harvest loss and food waste must consider the root causes and provide support to address, monitor and sustain them to achieve growth. Food security is everyone's business as hunger is not a respect of any person. We need to work together to ensure that post harvest loss becomes a part of our food system. Today is the best time to start!
Yours-in-Service
Babatunde
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