Resource Mobilization

Reducing Post-Harvest Losses in Fruits and Vegetables in South Asian Countries

Fruits and vegetables make a significant contribution to food security, nutrition and poverty reduction, as well as to generating economic development in South Asian countries. However, poor quality, questionable safety and high levels of post-harvest losses are major bottlenecks faced in traditional fruit and vegetable supply chains in the region. The project aimed to pilot the implementation of good post-harvest management practices to manage quality, assure safety and reduce losses in prioritized traditional fruit and vegetable supply chains with stakeholders, in order to generate evidence to support the uptake of the improved practices.

What did the project do

The capacities of a core of technical personnel from across the region were considerably strengthened through training and through piloting of good practice in horticultural supply chains. The project introduced appropriate levels of technology, and improved the capacities of stakeholders in traditional fresh produce supply chains, to manage the quality, and enhance the shelf-life of their outputs. Policy-makers were sensitized by national counterpart institutions to the need to improve the bulk packaging of fresh produce, and took action to facilitate the use of plastic crates for the reduction of transport losses, through the provision of incentives and financial support.

Impact

The project contributed to generating decent livelihoods and incomes for rural populations producing fruits and vegetables. The training courses organized for beneficiaries in good post-harvest management practice, and in the piloting of good practices created new local knowledge, which helped to substantially decrease qualitative and quantitative post-harvest losses, and to enhance the shelf-life of fresh produce. With better quality, reduced post-harvest losses, and enhanced shelf-life of fresh produce, stakeholders were able to diversify their market opportunities and improve their incomes.

Activities

  • Over 200 supply-chain stakeholders in three target countries in the region (Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka) trained in principles of good post-harvest management practice in horticultural chains.
  • 75 trainers trained during courses held in the three target countries.
  • Six pilot demonstrations conducted in prioritized supply chains in the three target countries.
  • Two regional Training of Trainers courses in good post-harvest management practice organized for 35 stakeholders from six countries in the region.
  • A range of educational and awareness-raising materials, designed for a broad spectrum of stakeholders, was produced and disseminated to all countries, including extension brochures on the application of good practice; information sheets; case studies; and infographics on good post-harvest management.
  • An evidence-based policy brief on reducing post-harvest losses in horticultural supply chains in South Asian countries was produced. 
Project symbol: TCP/RAS/3502
Project title: Reduction of post-harvest losses in horticultural chains in South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries
Contact: Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific / Rosa Rolle (Lead Technical Officer)
Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
Download PDF: http://www.fao.org/3/CA3142EN/ca3142en.pdf