Post-harvest loss in sub-Saharan Africa—what do farmers say?

• Published in: Global food security Vol. 3; no. 3-4; pp. 149 - 158
• Main Authors: Kaminski, Jonathan, Christiaensen, Luc
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.11.2014
• Subjects: Crop protection; Maize; Post-harvest loss; Storage; Sub-Saharan Africa; Maize; Storage; Crop protection; Post-harvest loss; Sub-Saharan Africa
• ISSN: 2211-9124; 2211-9124
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gfs.2014.10.002

The 2007–2008 global food crisis has renewed interest in post-harvest loss (PHL), but estimates remain scarce, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. This paper uses self-reported PHL measures from nationally representative household surveys in Malawi, Uganda, and Tanzania. Overall, on-farm PHL adds up to 1.4–5.9 percent of the national maize harvest, substantially lower than the FAO (2011) post-harvest handling and storage loss estimate for cereals of 8 percent. It is also concentrated among few, less than a fifth of households. PHL increases with humidity and temperature, and declines with better market access, post primary education, higher seasonal price differences and possibly also with improved storage practices. Wider use of nationally representative surveys in studying PHL is called for. •On-farm self-reported PHL adds up to 1.4–5.9 percent of the national maize harvest.•It is lower than the 8 percent FAO cereals׳ post-harvest handling and storage losses.•It is also concentrated among few, less than a fifth of households.•Self-reported PHL increases with remoteness, humidity and temperature.•It declines with post-primary education and higher seasonal price differences.