Analysis of Post-Harvest Losses in Cassava Value Chain. Causes and Strategies to reduce them in Uganda

Abstract

Many resource-poor countries are putting a lot emphasis towards improving food security but their efforts are still constrained by post-harvest losses. This paper focuses on cassava to expose the causes of post-harvest losses at household level; the stage at which farm households experience losses and the strategies used by farmers to reduce losses. Data from the National Agricultural Advisory Services were used and were analyzed using Probit model. Results indicate that post-harvest losses occur due to absence of storage facilities, pest invasion and lack of market information. Also, post-harvest losses occur at different stages even within a single household and too, households use differing strategies to reduce losses. Thus, interventions aiming at promoting food security need to supplement the efforts with enhanced mechanisms for post-harvest handling. The study recommends establishment of community ware houses for farmers’ output as well as improved agro-processing processes to reduce on wastage at household level.

JEL Classification : O13, Q13, Q18