www.fao.org/save-food/projects/saarc-countries/en/ Agricultural systems in SAARC countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) are dominated by smallholder farmers. Post-harvest losses in fruits and vegetables are high, ranging between 20 and 44 percent. These high levels of losses are largely the result of improper handling, transportation and packaging, poor storage and weak basic and post-harvest specific infrastructure, and result in seriously diminished returns to producers while reducing the net availability of these food commodities for consumption. © FAO: http://www.fao.org

1. Rosa S. Rolle, Ph.D
Senior Enterprise Development Officer
Nutrition and Food Systems Division
SAVE FOOD Innovationparc 2017
Reducing Post-harvest Losses in
Traditional Fresh Produce Supply
Chains in South Asia

2.  Low farm gate prices for tomatoes in local markets.
 High levels of post-harvest loss in tomato supply chains.
 Poor quality and limited shelf-life of tomatoes in local markets.
 High cost of tomatoes to consumers
Background
SAVE FOOD Innovationparc 2017

3. FAO Response
FAO Technical Cooperation Project: TCP/RAS/3502
Reduction of post-harvest losses in horticultural chains
in SAARC Countries
 Identify the technical causes of losses
 Pilot solutions with stakeholders
 Build an evidence base to support stakeholder uptake
 Support stakeholders in implementing good practice
SAVE FOOD Innovationparc 2017

4. Methodology
 Stakeholder sensitization and surveys
 Market surveys
 Training of trainers
 Survey of critical loss points in the supply chains
 Pilot demonstration of good practice, measurement and assessment
 Documentation of results
 Dissemination of results
 Policy recommendations for Governments
SAVE FOOD Innovationparc 2017

5. Key stakeholders in the winter tomato
supply chains in Bangladesh
SAVE FOOD Innovationparc 2017

6. The traditional
winter tomato supply chain
SAVE FOOD Innovationparc 2017

7. The traditional
winter tomato supply chain
SAVE FOOD Innovationparc 2017
A
B
C
Field level activities
 Harvesting
 Handling
 Packaging

8. Improvements introduced
in the winter supply chain
SAVE FOOD Innovationparc 2017
Production Farms
Bogra
Collection center/area near the
farm
200-300 m
Field sorting and packing: 20 kg plastic crate
Harvesting: manual (hand)
Harvest container: plastic pail
Supermarkets
Retail Markets
Manual Hauling
3-wheeled cart
Loading in truck
Packaging: 20 kg plastic crate
Cushioning material:
newspaper
Wholesale Market
173 km,
good road
Transportation
by truck
C
O
N
S
U
M
E
R
S
Trimming of long stem
Washing in chlorinated water

9. Improvements introduced
in the winter supply chain
SAVE FOOD Innovationparc 2017
A B C D
Post-harvest

10. Summary
of traditional and improved practice
SAVE FOOD Innovationparc 2017
Operation Traditional Practice Improved Practice
Harvesting Bamboo basket as harvesting
container
Plastic pail or bucket as
harvesting container and
plastic crates as field
containers
Trimming of stem No trimming Trimming using scissors
Washing No washing Washing in chlorinated water
Packaging 50 kg red plastic mesh sack 25 kg plastic crate

11. Sampling of tomatoes
SAVE FOOD Innovationparc 2017
Sampling: 10% by weight
or count
Assessment: Daily

12. Sampling of tomatoes
Moderate compression Severe compression
Cracks (non-marketable) Decay, cracks (non-marketable)
Qualitative
Quantitative
Loss

13. Recovery of sound fruit at the
wholesale level
SAVE FOOD Innovationparc 2017
Top
97.8%
Middle
96.7%
Bottom
90.0%
Top
66.7%
Middle
61.1%
Bottom
30.0%

14. Recovery of sound
tomato fruit (%) at the wholesale level
SAVE FOOD Innovationparc 2017
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
CRATE SACK
52%
More

15. 0
5
10
15
20
25
30
1 2 3
CRATE SACK
Proportion of unmarketable tomatoes (%)
over 3 days in retail
SAVE FOOD Innovationparc 2017
16%
22%
32%
Unmarketable

16. 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
1 2 3
Crate sack
Proportion of fruits fetching a
higher marketable price in retail over time (days)
SAVE FOOD Innovationparc 2017
After
3 days

17. Economic benefit of using plastic crates for the
wholesaler
SAVE FOOD Innovationparc 2017
17
PARAMETER Red mesh sack Plastic crate
Gross returns (Volume sold – loss) x
selling price
(1000 kg – 167 kg) x Tk 10.00/kg TK 8,330.00
(1000 kg – 0 kg) x Tk 10.00/kg 10,000.00
Costs
Depreciation cost of plastic crate 0 24.62
Opportunity cost of capital 0 23.38
Labour for sorting 250.00 0
Subtotal 250.00 48.00
Gross returns - costs 8,080.00 9.952.00
Tk 8.08 per kg Tk 9,95/kg

18. Economic benefit of using plastic crates for the
Retailer
SAVE FOOD Innovationparc 2017
18
Item Red mesh sack Plastic crate
Gross returns (Volume sold – loss) x selling
price
(1000 kg – 293 kg) x Tk 20.00/kg TK 14,140.00
(1000 kg – 26 kg) x Tk 20.00/kg TK19,480.00
Costs
Depreciation cost of plastic crate 0 24.62
Opportunity cost of capital 0 23.38
Labour for sorting 250.00 0
Subtotal 250.00 48.00
Gross returns - costs 13,890.00 19,432.00
Tk13.89 per kg Tk 19.43/kg

19. Retail level
Weight loss due to water loss in
the absence of retail packaging, results
in shrivelling (visual quality loss) and
economic loss
3 DAYS in RETAIL

20. Conclusion
Improvements in packaging resulted in:
 Better quality produce on the market
 Improved shelf-life
 Reduced losses (Qualitative and quantitative)
 Improved economic returns for supply chain
stakeholders
Increased adoption of plastic crates will contribute to
reducing post-harvest losses in fruit and vegetable
supply chains.

21. Contact
Rosa.Rolle@fao.org
Acknowledgements
International Expert Elda Esguerra Ph.D
National Project Manager Madan Saha Ph.D, BARI
National Post-harvest Expert Attiquar Rahman
Rosa S. Rolle, Ph.D
Senior Enterprise Development Officer
Nutrition and Food Systems Division