S23 - Session O7 - Zero Loss Centers: Model for Postharvest Loss Reduction and Better Market Access for Smallholder Horticultural Farmers Keynote:

Authors: Jane Ambuko Lukhachi *, Emmanuel Amwoka, Margaret Hutchinson, Willis Owino

High postharvest losses is one of the major challenges facing smallholder horticultural farmers in developing countries in Africa. It is estimated that 40-50% of the total production of fruits and vegetables is lost upstream due various factors. Lack of cold storage and small-scale processing facilities have been identified as key drivers of upstream postharvest losses in fruit and vegetables. For smallholder farmers with limited resources, access to such facilities can be realized through organized groups. This paper highlights the concept of 'zero-loss' centers whose operationalization has been demonstrated in a group of smallholder mango farmers in Kenya. At a typical zero-loss center, low-cost evaporative cooling technologies are used for pre-cooling and/or short-term storage of the mango fruits that are delivered to the group facilities. After precooling, fruits which are meant for long-term storage are transferred to a low-cost cold room (Coolbot™ cold room) which is preset at the optimal storage temperature (12+-2) for the tropical fruit. The cold storage facilities have enabled the smallholder farmers to aggregate the small volumes from individual farms thereby achieving the quantity, quality and consistency demanded by traders. Group aggregation and marketing has also enabled the farmers to negotiate better farm-gate prices and avoid exploitation by middlemen. In addition to cold storage facilities, the centers are equipped with facilities for the small-scale processing. With these facilities, the surplus/unsold fruits can be transformed into diverse processed products. Transformation of the perishable fruits into high quality shelf-stable products not only minimizes losses during the peak but nets better returns for the farmers. In addition, the waste from mango processing (including peels and kernels) have shown great potential for use in chicken feeds thereby completing the circular system where no produce that is brought to the center goes to waste n hence the term zero-loss centers. Although the case study presented focuses on mango fruit, the concept of zero-loss centers is applicable to other fruits and vegetables. If well executed, zero-loss centers can contribute to postharvest loss reduction while increasing profits for smallholder horticultural farmers and creating agri-business opportunities for entrepreneurs.