Sustainable Interventions: Loss & waste reduction for smallholders in the cassava, tomato, & maize value chains

Post-harvest loss has been a perennial problem facing the food economy of many developing countries. FAO estimates that 30% - 50% of food produced for human consumption and export in Africa is lost as waste along the supply chain annually. The problem is exacerbated by lack of simple interventions and technologies for the predominant smallholders along the value chains of the agriculture sector. Content of this Webinar will discuss interventions that contribute to reducing food waste and post-harvest losses mainly by smallholder farmers in Africa along three value chain crops (cassava, maize and tomatoes). In the cassava value chain, particular attention will focus on mechanical harvesting and its role in eliminating drudgery and harvesting losses.

Presentation on the maize value chain will focus on small capacity drying systems and their economic viability for commercial upscale and adoption by smallholder maize farmers. To prevent edible waste along value chains of these crops, a section of the presentation will look at product development and value addition to prevent losses from edible waste and provide smallholders new market opportunities for new products and improve the economic livelihood of the smallholder farmer.

During the 60-minute presentation and discussion, members of the Consortium from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana will lead discussions on research works related to the following topics:

Cassava Mechanisation in Africa: the role of the TEK Mechanical Cassava Harvester

Techno-economic Assessment of Low-Cost Drying Systems for Reduction of Post-
Harvest Losses in maize grain in Ghana.

Value Addition and Product Development from Edible Waste of Tomato, Maize and
Cassava

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