This document reviews post-harvest systems in IFAD projects. Around 30% of IFAD projects between 2000-2010 included post-harvest activities, increasing to 50% between 2008-2011. Globally, 1/3 of food is lost or wasted prior to consumption in developing countries. The document examines case studies from Grenada and Rwanda, identifying challenges such as weak technical capacity and lack of post-harvest infrastructure. It recommends that IFAD projects continue integrating post-harvest activities and developing partnerships to address food loss issues.

1. Post-harvest systems in IFAD
projects – A Review
Joy S. Afenyo
Consultant, PTA
Wafaa El-Khoury
Senior Technical Advisor, PTA
10/04/12

2. Introduction
y 2050 agricultural production must double to support 9
bn people
lobally 1/3 of food produced gets lost or wasted; more than
40% of losses prior to consumption in DCs
ncrease in production may not be sufficient if not
supported by a reduction in the losses
10/04/12

3. Post-harvest in IFAD Policies
he issues have been captured in key policy documents
trategic frameworks (SF) 2002-2006, 2007-2010, 2011-2015
and various policy documents
ome COSOPS
tress the need to improve on post-production systems and
support small farmers with appropriate technologies
10/04/12

4. Post-harvest in Field Activities
Review of projects
Online survey and direct discussions with
some CPMs/Programme officers
Field mission
10/04/12

5. Projects
Projects with post-harvest activities - 2008 and 2011
 Between 2000 and 2010, roughly
30% of IFAD projects invested in
post-harvest activities; 2008 to
2011, 50%
 ↑No. of projects developing value
chains (3% 1999 -46% presently)
Data Sources: IFAD Project Portfolio Management System ( PPMS), IFAD
xdesk. 2011
10/04/12

6. Case Study 1
Project:
Grenada Rural Enterprises Development Project (GREP) 2002-2009
Description
Component: Enterprise Development (2 sub-components)
Sub-component - marketing and processing : marketing infrastructure,
processing equipment, training (quality control in fresh and processed
agricultural produce etc.), storage and handling facilities for produce.
Issues
The project experienced some implementation challenges but notable
issues with respect to post-production activities are:
• Costs of component: Original 20% ; Actual –end of project 6.6%
•Weak technical capacity at project management level to implement
the sub-component activities
•Lack of clarity at project design about the sub-component activities
10/04/12

7. Case Study 2
Rwanda - KWAMP (Maize)
10/04/12

8. Rwanda
Post-harvest management: A top priority for the Government and the IFAD
Country Programme
Challenges
Post-harvest infrastructure and management capacity
arvest season overlapping with rainy/planting season:
moisture related spoilage issues
rying shed provided: key concerns
• Distances of facilities from farms
• Suitability of provided sheds
• Management: high farmer to shed ratio
hort storage period due to insect infestation and limited
storage technologies at household and cooperative levels
imited knowledge and management capacity of individual
10/04/12
and common infrastructure

9. Suggested technologies
DRYING STORAGE
10/04/12

10. Outcome
ost-harvest food loss reduction and management issues
are high on the IFAD agenda however more needs to be
done to translate policies into practical and successful
interventions in the field
ecommendation
FAD projects with production/markets orientation
continue to include activities addressing post-harvest
constraints
10/04/12

11. Actions for Consideration
1. Awareness raising on the value of losses
2. Development of M&E system and relevant indicators for
losses in projects (RIMS) and the capacity to measure
them
3. Capacity development of farmers, FOs, national project
implementation partners etc. in post-harvest systems
(technical and managerial)
4. Knowledge sharing : South-South and North-South
exchanges to capture and share knowledge
“experiential knowledge”
5. Partnerships and private sector engagement
10/04/12

12. Partnerships
AO - “Global initiative on food loss and waste reduction”
orld Food Programme (WFP)
FID - Innovations Mainstreaming Initiative (IMI)
mallholder Post-harvest Innovations Project (SPIP)
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC –
“Global Programme Food Security”
GIAR Centres (IRRI, CIMMYT, etc)
10/04/12