1. 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

2. Outline Background Commodity system analysis
Case study Benin, Ghana, Cameroon
Summary and Recommendations

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. Assessment leafy vegetable
Producers are aware that quality of produce is affected by:
Delay weeding
Water management
Fertilizer & pesticide use
Disease and pests

12. 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

13. Assessment leafy vegetable
Traders
1- Transport & storage
Delay
Poor infrastrures (roads, storage)
2- Poor access to markets
Mevente
Supply>demand
3- Diseases and Pests

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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 ± -
2.22± 16.61 ±
26.67 ±
Aspergillus flavus
91.95 ±
1.67 ± 15.81
56.06 ±
Rhizopus. stolonifer
2.27 ± 10.47
21.11 ±
Fusarium. verticilloides ± ± ±
Fusarium. prolifératum
68.33 ±
34.44 ±
96.11±
Fusarium. oxysporum
2.25 ± 21.20
Penicillium. citrinum
48.31 ± ±
45.00 ± 99.45
Penicillium. commune
2.22 ±

18. 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
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

19. Assessment of post harvest losses
Tracking samples : tomato case
Tomato baskets weight and percent of spoiled tomatoes depend on display temperature

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. Thank you