A commodity system analysis to reduce post A commodity system analysis to reduce post harvestharvest

losses of vegetablelosses of vegetable

Realized by:

KODJOGBE Guy, Chantal Pali, Nana Fredua AGYEMAN, Marian ASAMOAH,Christophe Kouame, Benoit Gnonlonfin, Kerstin HELL, Ousmane COULIBALY

BackgroundBackground

Fresh vegetables production provides employment for nearly 60,000 people in Benin (PADAPA, 2003)

It was estimated that between 30 and 40% are produced for own consumption (Hounkpodote and Tossou, 2001)

In Kumasi (Ghana), 37 percent of the population reported farming as their main occupation, and this is particularly so for women (Brook and Davila, 2000 in Gundel, 2006)

Fresh fruit and vegetables production is confronted with a lot of difficulties: 

- the ownership problem - lack of technical training for producers - poor access to credit and inputs - distribution and marketing difficulties - the high competition between local

products and imported products (Deguenon, 2006).

High losses have been reported for African countries ranging between 15%–30% of the harvested product (Buys and Nortje, 1997)

BackgroundBackground

Objectives of studyObjectives of studyPost harvest losses (physical and

economic) assessment on tomato, fresh pepper, dried pepper, lettuce and okra

Identification of post harvest losses causes and destinations.

Identification of mycoflora which accelerate the fresh vegetables losses

MethodologyMethodology 4 methods are applied in order to assess post harvest losses on these vegetables

value chains.

Benin Ghana

Product Tomato, Lettuce, fresh pepper Tomato, Lettuce, fresh pepper, dried pepper and Okra

Study zone Grand-Popo, Cotonou, Porto-Novo Accra

Focus group Inventory problems occur by producers: (1group/zone) and traders (3groups/zone)

Survey Losses (physical and economic), causes and destinations according producers

(60) and traders (180) perceptions

Losses (phisical and economic), causes and destinations

according producers (60) and traders (180) perceptions

Laboratory analysis Dilution method (speck, 1976): 30 samples/product/zone

Tracking samples

Recording (morning, noon and afternoon)temperature under shed and temperature inside the baskets daily weighting and counting the samples

Tracking samples:

- Assess post harvest losses both quantitatively and qualitatively according to exposition temperature at market

- 6 baskets per product (1.5 kg) are chosen per trader (6)

- We have recorded the temperature under the shed and and the temperature inside the baskets at regular intervals time during morning, noon and afternoon.

- Daily, we have weighted the baskets and have counted the number of spoiled products;

- This method is applied during 5 days for tomato, 7 days for chilli pepper and 3 days for lettuce according to their traders purchase frequencies.

MethodologyMethodology

Quantitative losses = Quantity of harvested or bought products – Sold quantity of products

Qualitative losses depend on product grade, the storage time and price.

MethodologyMethodology

Results and discussionResults and discussion

Actors Problems (in order of importance

Desirable solutions

Producers

1- Lack of irrigation infrastructures2- Poor access to markets/high competition of imported products3- Lack/insufficient access to credit4- Poor access to treatment chemicals and seeds5- Insects and nematodes6- Lack of skilled workers (training)7- Transport and storage

1- Implementation of performed infrastructures for irrigation2- Credit3- Proximity and availability of treatment chemicals and seeds4- Well trained workers

Traders

1- Poor access to credit2- Poor access to markets3- Lack of traders association4- Transport and storage5- Insects and fungi

1- Access to credit2- Training for producers on use of inputs (fertilizers and pesticides)

Focus group

Results and discussionResults and discussion

CropsEffectif

total

Education Education level Training Association

Yes no primary secondaryHigh

schoolyes no yes no

Tomato 20 80% 20% 35% 30% 10% 55% 45% 40% 60%

Chilli pepper

20 75% 25% 45% 25% 5% 70% 30% 65% 35%

Lettuce 20 90% 10% 50% 40% 0% 70% 30% 70% 30%

Table 1: Producers education level, training and association membership in Benin

Effectif totalEducation Education level Training Association

Yes No Primary SecondaryHigh

school Yes No Yes No

45 95.6% 4.4% 27.4% 60% 1.1% 37.8% 62.2% 100% 0

Results and discussion Results and discussion

Table 2: Distribution of producers by education level, training and association membership in Ghana

Causes of post-harvest losses of fresh vegetables in those countries:

- use of local or auto-propagated seeds

- excessive use of fertilizer,- poor irrigation system- poor harvesting practices, - supply exceeding demand - Handling: poor transport and

storage- Insects and fungi

Results and discussion Results and discussion

firm and fresh; infestation rate<=5%; red-green (tomato and chilli), green (lettuce), Too expensive according to the seasons.

Grade 1

Less firm and less fresh; infestation rate between 15% and 20%; red (tomato and chilli), green with infestation (lettuce is throw away); the selling price fall gradually.

Grade 2

Results and discussion Results and discussion

Grade 3

poor quality; infestation rate >= 50%; red (tomato and chilli); discount and sold to street food traders

Grade 4

very poor quality; infestation rate = 100%; red (only the tomato); very discount and sold to street food traders

Results and discussion Results and discussion

Destinations of the post harvest losses:

- Spoiled products are left on the field and sold to street food vendors (more common)

- Seeds from spoiled products can be used for the next season

- Spoiled lettuce are given to pigs or sold to breeders

Results and discussion Results and discussion

Table 3 : Quantitative losses assessment in value chain (%)

Results and discussion Results and discussion

Countries Products Collectors Wholesalers Retailers Collectors/wholesalers

Collectors/retailers

Wholesalers/retailers

Benin

Tomato 12 8 12 10 20 13

fresh pepper

- 13 4 - - 4

Lettuce - 22 9 - - 16

Ghana

Tomato 2 45,62 39,75

Fresh pepper

1.07 1.51 0.92Dried

pepper 32.07 37.22

Lettuce 31.75 31.63 31.94Okra 5.28 17.86 22.3

Fungi Products Grand-Popo&Come Porto-Novo&Cotonou

Aspergillus niger Chilli pepper

LettuceTomato

98.33 ± 254.22-

2.22± 16.61

123.33 ± 1054.5826.67 ± 57.18

Aspergillus flavusChilli pepper

LettuceTomato

91.95 ± 197.49-0

1.67 ± 15.8156.06 ± 169.90

Rhizopus. stoloniferChilli pepper

LettuceTomato

2.27 ± 10.47-0

021.11 ± 70.30

Fusarium. verticilloidesChilli pepper

LettuceTomato

222.22 ± 463.80-0

1501.11 ± 1875.55377.22 ± 739.84

Fusarium. prolifératumChilli pepper

LettuceTomato

0-0

68.33 ± 310.7134.44 ± 105.9096.11± 191.86

Fusarium. oxysporumChilli pepper

LettuceTomato

0-0

2.25 ± 21.20

Penicillium. citrinumChilli pepper

LettuceTomato

48.31 ± 164.36-0

125.00 ± 616.6845.00 ± 99.45

Penicillium. communeChilli pepper

LettuceTomato

2.22 ± 14.82-0

0-0

Table 7: Mycoflora occurrence on vegetables (CFU/g) in BeninResults and discussion Results and discussion

ProductsAspergillus

flavusAspergillus

nigerAspergillus ochraceus

Aspergillus penicilloid

es

Fusarium verticilloide

s

Fusarium proliferatu

m

Penicillium citrinum

Penicillium spp

Fresh pepper 108.56±30.023 91.44±16.048 0 0 17.47±7.119 0 11.3±5.766 0.34±0.342

Dried pepper 30.56±13.255 27.78±8.320 23.61±14.704 0 80.56±24.257 0 1.39±1.389 1.39±1.389

Tomato8.33±7.448 3.7±2.594 0 0 27.78±15.787 8.33±8.333 2.78±2.055 0

Lettuce2.00±2.000 87.33±22.079 0.67+0.667 0 86.67±20.910 13.51±8.458 21.33±6.790 1.33±0.936

Okra0.41±0.407 84.15±14.956 0 42.28±15.185 72.36±15.437 0 54.88±14.203 0.81±0.573

Results and discussion Results and discussion

Table 8: Mycoflora occurrence on vegetables (CFU/g) in Accra (Ghana)

Tomato baskets weight and percent of spoiled tomatoes depend on display temperature

Results and discussion Results and discussion

Tracking samples : tomato case

Post harvest losses are highest for tomato and lettuce, it can reach up to 20% after 5 days

Chilli pepper and okra are the fresh vegetable which are most infected by fungi in both countries: risk of mycotoxicosis

The main perceived causes of post harvest losses have their root at producer level:

- use of local seeds/ auto-propagated seeds- excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides:

pesticide residues- poor harvesting practices

Poor handling (practices, packaging, etc.) cause losses during transport and storage

Conclusions Conclusions

Improved access to high quality seeds (variety shelf life) and other inputs

Training of producers on appropriate use of fertilizers and pesticides, the appropriate marketing and production planning methods

Improved transport practices, packaging technologies (eg: using folding plastic boxes), improved storage infrastructures

Improved access to credit and improved providing policy makers subsidies to producers

Training traders on effective and efficient transport or storage practices

Monitoring of mycotoxins and pesticides residues

Suggestions Suggestions