FUW TRENDS IN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY JOURNAL

(A Peer Review Journal)
e–ISSN: 2408–5162; p–ISSN: 2048–5170

FUW TRENDS IN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY JOURNAL

ESTIMATING POST HARVEST LOSS: A CHALLENGE OF DEVELOPING NATIONS
Pages: 806-813
J. A. Ayo, S Oboh, V. A. Ayo and C. Popoola


keywords: Developing, estimating, loss, nations, postharvest

Abstract

This paper has highlighted the importance of reducing postharvest food losses as a necessary step in ensuring future global food security in a sustainable manner. Given the postharvest challenges posed by lack of understanding of postharvest losses, food safety and the non-controlling of aflatoxin cannot be achieved merely through increases in agricultural productivity. There have been very few past studies conducted to estimate food losses. The existing studies have been mostly one-off and do not adopt any consistent methodologies. Methodology assessment identified include-specific food loss assessment consideration-rapid laboratory based procedure, rapid judgement based procedure guesstimate, traditional local estimate, vissloss estimate and on-site expert judgements. Other loss measurement techniques include weight comparisons, separation of damaged kernels and percentage determination. While the African Postharvest Losses Information System has recently made an effort to provide a framework to calculate food losses using a common methodology for south and east Africa, the input used in this process is based on work which may be outdated or not directly relevant. Therefore, it is critical that a more broader and updated effort be implemented to improve the ability to estimate postharvest food losses. The paper outlines a framework which can be adopted for consistent estimation of postharvest losses.

References

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Highlights