Project submission data improvement of food self-sufficiency and security in Africa through prevention of post-harvest food losses

Abstract

Besides its low performance due mainly to the very low yields if compared to the achievements in other developing regions, the African agricultural sector remained very vulnerable to diseases and various pests which still contribute to huge losses both at the pre- and post-harvest stages. With the food crisis affecting Africa for the last ten years, increasing food availability through preserving what has been harvested is becoming as important as operations aiming at increasing the output. Also, it is noteworthy that losses are particularly high in those regions where the need for food is the greatest. The magnitude of post-harvest food losses in developing countries has been largely documented and has been of great concern to International Organizations, Development Agencies and Non-Governmental Organizations involved in the fight of hunger and rural development in the developing regions including Africa.