Socio - cultural aspects of accessing and acceptance of

postharvest practices and technologies

Rakesh Munankami

Project Advisor Grain Postharvest Loss

Prevention (GPLP) Project

HELVETAS

28/11/2017

Outline of Presentation

1. Background

2. Interventions on PHM

3. Adoption of PHM

4. Decision making / work in PHM

5. Lesson learned

Grain Postharvest Loss (PHL)

• Postharvest loss of grain ranges from

15 - 40% depending on crop,

seasonality and geographical location

• GPLP project aims to reduce

postharvest losses in food grains in

the Central Corridor of Tanzania

thereby improve food security and

incomes of targeted farming

households.

• Applies Market System Development

(MSD) approach

Interventions on PHM

A. Demand creation

➢ Awareness raisings and promotion of PHM

(PHL, PHP, PHT)

➢ Training extension officers and farmers on

on PHM

➢ Demonstrations of PHT

B. Strengthen Supply

➢ Develop capacity of local artisans to

produce and market metal silos

➢ Strengthen capacity of agro-dealers

➢ Linking PHT producers with agro-dealers

and their supply network

➢ Linkage with finance

Improved Postharvest Practices (PHP)

Improved Postharvest Technologies

-

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

Farmers trainedon PHM

Farmers adoptedimproved PH

practices

Farmers improvedtraditional storage

technologies

Farmers adoptedhermetic bags

Farmers adoptedsilo

Adoption of PHP and PHT

Training and Adoption of PHM

27,385 25,803

19,817

7,868

2,073

Adoption of PHT

A. Adoption of hermetic bags

➢ 39,340 hermetic bags bought by

7,868 HH

(3,934 MT of grains safely stored at

HH level)

Adoption of hermetic bags is linked

with …

▪ Number of bags harvested

▪ Surplus / deficit of production

▪ Decision maker about PHT

Adoption of PHT

B. Adoption of metal silo

➢ 2,073 HH adopted metal silo

(1,036 MT of grains safely stored at

HH level)

Adoption of metal silo is linked with

▪ Number of bags harvested

▪ Surplus / deficit of production

▪ Membership in informal saving group

(VICOBA)

▪ Household’s income

Decision making in PHM

Postharvest

steps

Who decides ?

(1, 2, 3 in

ranking)

Who does the

works ?

Harvesting 1. Men

2. Both

3. Women

1. Both

2. Men

3. Women

Transport 1. Men

2. Both

3. Women

1. Both

2. Men

3. Women

Drying 1. Both

2. Men

3. Women

1. Both

2. Women

3. Men

Cleaning /

Winnowing

1. Both

2. Women

3. Men

1. Women

2. Both

3. Men

Decision making in PHM

• Cleaning / winnowing are mostly done by

women

• Use of storage pesticides - by men

• Most of the decisions and work are done jointly

by both – men and women

• When decisions are not made by both – men

makes more decisions than women alone

Postharvest

steps

Who

decides ?

(1, 2, 3 in

ranking)

Who does

the works ?

Mixing storage

pesticides

1. Men

2. Both

3. Women

1. Men

2. Both

3. Women

Selection of

storage

technologies

1. Both

2. Men

3. Women

Lessons Learned

1. Adoption of postharvest practices and

technologies depends on several factors – not

only economic or cost factors

2. Awareness campaign and promotion - use of

local drama, theater groups and targeting both

men and women - is important to increase the

demand

3. Options for different types of storage

technologies should be provided so that farmers

can choose the best for them

4. Market system development approach and

partnership with the private sector is crucial to

ensure there is no market distortion and

sustainability

Thank you for your Attention