A scoping review of interventions for crop postharvest loss reduction in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia

Abstract

Reducing postharvest losses (PHLs) of food crops is a critical component of sustainably increasing agricultural productivity. Many PHL reduction interventions have been tested, but synthesized information to support evidence-based investments and policy is scarce. In this study, PHL reduction interventions for 22 crops across 57 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia from the 1970s to 2019 were systematically reviewed. Screening of the 12,907 studies identified resulted in a collection of 334 studies, which were used to synthesize the evidence and construct an online open-access database, searchable by crop, country, postharvest activity and intervention type. Storage technology interventions mainly targeting farmers dominated (83% of the studies). Maize was the most studied crop (25%). India had the most studies (32%), while 25 countries had no studies. This analysis indicates an urgent need for a systematic assessment of interventions across the entire value chain over multiple seasons and sites, targeting stakeholders beyond farmers. The lack of studies on training, finance, infrastructure, policy and market interventions highlights the need for interventions beyond technologies or handling practice changes. Additionally, more studies are needed connecting the impact of PHL reductions to social, economic and environmental outcomes related to Sustainable Development Goals. This analysis provides decision makers with data for informed policy formulation and prioritization of investments in PHL reduction.

Field evaluation of hermetic and synthetic pesticide-based technologies in smallholder sorghum grain storage in hot and arid climates

“…Multi-stakeholder testing can be easily combined with training on the proper use of the technologies, and possibly increase their uptake and adoption. Recent evidence synthesis of small-scale farmer postharvest loss reduction technologies in SSA and South Asia revealed that there are very few studies which involve the end-users in the testing of the technologies, or conduct multi-site or multi-year comparisons of the interventions 10 .…”

“…This translates to over 9,400 tonnes in 2018 with a monetary value of approximately US$3.7 million using Zimbabwe Grain Marketing Board prices. There has been limited efforts to address these sorghum postharvest losses in Africa 9 , 10 . Practical postharvest grain storage options need to be developed to complement existing crop production efforts to achieve food and nutrition security.…”

A Mixed-Method Study to Enhance Food Security by Reducing Post-Harvest Wheat Losses in Punjab, Pakistan

“…Currently, the country produces 240 million tons of food, of which 15 to 25 million tons are wasted annually, and this loss is sufficient to meet the food needs of 0.1 billion people. These losses usually occur during harvesting, threshing, drying, storage, transport, processing, and marketing (Stathers et al, 2020;Kalita, 2017 andLundqvist et al, 2008).…”

“…At the fourth stage, four hundred farming households were selected through a proportionate sampling technique. Finally, (50,46,43,37,29,30,39,42,22,17,24,21) farming household from each village were selected through proportionate. Data analysis was carried out by using descriptive as well as inferential statistics.…”

Ending hunger: science must stop neglecting smallholder farmers

“…from the Ceres2030 team's findings includes the striking statement that "most of the included studies only involved researchers without any participation from farmers" 5 .…”