Food and nutrition security: challenges of post-harvest handling in Kenya

Abstract

Presently, close to 1 billion people suffer from hunger and food insecurity. Statistics in Kenya indicates that over 10 million people suffer from chronic food insecurity and poor nutrition, 2-4 million people require emergency food assistance at any given time with nearly 30 % of Kenya's children being undernourished, 35 % stunted while micro-nutrient deficiency is wide spread. Key among the challenges contributing to inadequate foods include lack of certified seeds, seasonal production (rain-fed), high post-harvest losses and wastages, poor transportation, low value additions which reduce their market competitiveness. The present paper examines some of the underlying causes for high food wastage experience in Kenya and the associated challenges in addressing these problems. The paper also provides an overview of some of the basic solutions that have been recommended by various stakeholders. However, in spite of the recent efforts made to mitigate food wastage, there is still an urgent need to address these gaps through participatory, innovative community based interventions that will create resilience to climate change and enhance livelihoods of smallholder farmers in diverse ecosystems.Food and nutrition security: Post-harvest handling: Food loss and wastage

Production Practices, Postharvest Handling, and Quality of Cowpea Seed Used by Farmers in Makueni and Taita Taveta Counties in Kenya

“…Dominance of physical hitting of the cowpea as the common method of threshing in this study is consistent with the findings of Gómez [38] and Taruvinga et al [39] who reported the threshing method by beating as popular among cowpea farmers. Popularity of nylon sacs, gunny bags, plastic containers, pots, and reed baskets as the storage containers in the areas of study is concurrent with the findings of Kimiywe [40], who among other postharvest storage containers cited use of storage pots, sacks, woven baskets, and drying methods such as hanging over fireplace, drying by smoking, and solar drying as popularly used containers and methods of drying. Recent studies in Nigeria showed that the traditionally preferred method of storage is use of polyethylene bags but pests have made them to turn to alternatives such as metal drums, Purdue-improved cowpea storage (PICS) bags, and double bags according to Moussa et al [41].…”

Utilization of Post-Harvest Technologies for Improved Food Security: Case of Maize and Mangoes among Smallholder Farmers in Kerio Valley Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya

“…This study focused on post-harvest technologies of mangoes and maize. For the case of mangoes, losses can be as high as up to 50% of the harvested fruits [3]. This is because mango processing in most parts of Kenya has not been taken into consideration and thus limited investment in agro processing and value addition [4].…”

“…This is because mango processing in most parts of Kenya has not been taken into consideration and thus limited investment in agro processing and value addition [4]. Post-harvest technologies used during handling can either maintain or deteriorate the quality of the commodity [3]. For instance during harvesting of mangoes majority of farmers use harvesting methods such as climbing of mango trees, using poles and shaking of trees which exposes the fruits to more mechanical damages [5].…”

“…The harvested mangoes are basically kept in shades as the farmers wait for buyers to transport the produce to the market [6]. Packaging materials used also contribute to postharvest losses, because most of the farmers use gunny bags and sucks as packaging materials instead of plastic crates and during the process of transit, losses are experienced due to bruises and compression [3]. One of the strategies to reduce post-harvest losses is to optimize handling of the product at all stages [7].…”

“…Processing activities are normally the frequently used methods such as milling and sun drying [14]. Use of metal silos and purdue bags reduces losses during storage compared to polypropylene bags [3]. Further processing such as milling and fortification are also essential as a remedy of curbing post-harvest losses [15].…”