Attachments
Introduction
Food and Nutrition on security continues to pose a challenge to West African countries taking into consideration on rising population on growth coupled with dwindling natural resources such as land and the stress posed on water resources by climate change. Vegetable production is indeed one of the major options that can significantly contribute to food and nutrition on security with limited risk associated to expansion of production land. Vegetables are known to be essential sources of micro nutrients which are critical for reducing high level of under 5 malnutrition on (15%). However, these potentials are hindered by high post-harvest losses at various stages of the vegetable value chain.
In many West African countries, vegetable production, although widespread, continues to be dominated by women and youth who are the most vulnerable sections of the West African population on. The activity therefore is a major contributor to youth employment and a source of stable income for women folk especially rural women.
Definite actions in addressing post-harvest losses in vegetable value chain can stem youth migration on as well as reduce the income gap between men and women in the agriculture sector.
On the economic front, a substantial amount of our national income is spent on importation of exotic vegetable products thereby widening the trade balance deficit. The availability of locally produced vegetable products that can compete with exotic ones in Africa’s local market (daily, Mini and super markets), will positively impact on balance of payment and improve agriculture contribute on to GDP.
Issues
Currently, substantial al amount of vegetables products are lost through limited availability of technologies and related infrastructure for post-harvest activities. This negatively impacts on incomes of vegetable farmers and the pursuit for national food and nutrition on security. Post-harvest losses in the vegetable value chain are associated with the perishable nature of the products and this is made worse by the weak links in the post-harvest value chain itself.
Most advocacy for the control of post-harvest losses in the vegetable value chain focuses on the cold chain and its related sophistication. However, for West African countries proper training and orientation on of actors within the post-harvest value chain (producers, middle men and women and retailers) and other related infrastructure are more critical than sophisticated machinery geared towards maintaining the cold chain.
Clearly, the inadequate supply of public goods that is largely provided by the public sector perpetuates the high rate of post-harvest losses in the vegetable value chain. Majority of vegetable producing centers are located in remote areas with poor road infrastructure and inadequate transport network. These conditions are disincentives for effective private sector participation in the vegetable post-harvest value chain thus making the cost of transportation expensive for both producers and marketers of vegetables. Coupled with these are also limited access to electricity and technical know-how for appropriate technologies to facilitate proper vegetable storage techniques and methods.
Realizing the full potentials of the contribution of vegetables in the national economy depends largely on addressing bottlenecks in the post-harvest value chain. However, limited investments in processing and packaging facilities are a major hindrance in improving quality and lengthening shelf lives of vegetables produced in West African countries.
These factors coupled with limited marketing outlets are contributing to product glutting and price volatility. Majority of producers produce the same type of crops, harvest around the same ti me and target the same markets. Consequently most of the products are not sold and thereby rendered lost or attract prices that provide no economic incentives for producers.
Recommendations
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Governments of West African countries to consider matching grants to private sector actors in the vegetable post-harvest value chain.
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Addressing post-harvest lost in the vegetable value chain requires strategic cooperation and communicate on between research and extension in this regard, a five year strategic plan focusing on research and extension on the vegetable post-harvest value chain would be worth considering.
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The ministries responsible for agriculture together with the Ministry of Roads and Infrastructure to produce an action plan for upgrading of feeder roads targeting vegetable production sites and mobilize resources to implement the action plan.
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Facilitation of market linkages with agribusinesses by developing strategic alliances with established marketing outlets such as supermarkets and hotels.
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Develop and implement communication and sensitization strategy and tools on appropriate timing and methods of harvesting.
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Develop and implement nutrition education programmes.