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 58 86 68 Source: IndigenousVeg survey data, 2006

Background Producing vegetable is profitable Retailers earn > 1 $/d Consuming vegetable is good for Health High nutrient content Reduce non transmissible diseases Mahyao et al. 2006 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 26 components Each component is potentially important But not always relevant for all commodities Permits analysis of a whole commodity systems Requires multidisciplinary team La Gra et al.1990

Commodity System Analysis Methodology Causes of losses at different points of the system La Gra et al. 1990

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 important concern Safe production 57% pesticides uses, fertilization 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 Physiological damages: Softening,.. Premature harvest Direct exposition to soil Direct exposition to rain Plastic packing material Heating, yellowing, weight loss Direct exposition to sun Inadequate ventilation during packing, storage, transportation

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 Products Collectors Wholesalers Retailers Benin Tomato 12 8 fresh pepper - 13 4 Lettuce 22 9 Ghana 2 45,62 39,75 Fresh pepper 1.07 1.51 Dried pepper 32.07 37.22 31.75 31.63 31.94 Okra 5.28 17.86 22.3

Assessment of post harvest losses Table 7: Mycoflora occurrence on vegetables (CFU/g) in Benin Fungi Products Grand-Popo&Come Porto-Novo&Cotonou Aspergillus niger Chilli pepper Lettuce Tomato 98.33 ± 254.22 - 2.22± 16.61 123.33 ± 1054.58 26.67 ± 57.18 Aspergillus flavus 91.95 ± 197.49 1.67 ± 15.81 56.06 ± 169.90 Rhizopus. stolonifer 2.27 ± 10.47 21.11 ± 70.30 Fusarium. verticilloides 222.22 ± 463.80 1501.11 ± 1875.55 377.22 ± 739.84 Fusarium. prolifératum 68.33 ± 310.71 34.44 ± 105.90 96.11± 191.86 Fusarium. oxysporum 2.25 ± 21.20 Penicillium. citrinum 48.31 ± 164.36 125.00 ± 616.68 45.00 ± 99.45 Penicillium. commune 2.22 ± 14.82

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 Fresh pepper 108.56±30.023 91.44±16.048 17.47±7.119 11.3±5.766 0.34±0.342 Dried pepper 30.56±13.255 27.78±8.320 23.61±14.704 80.56±24.257 1.39±1.389 Tomato 8.33±7.448 3.7±2.594 27.78±15.787 8.33±8.333 2.78±2.055 Lettuce 2.00±2.000 87.33±22.079 0.67+0.667 86.67±20.910 13.51±8.458 21.33±6.790 1.33±0.936 Okra 0.41±0.407 84.15±14.956 42.28±15.185 72.36±15.437 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