Reducing food losses through improved post-harvest management in Ethiopia- Phase 1 (December 2013-November 2017)
FAO is implementing a project GCP/ETH/084/SWI titled “Reducing Food Losses through Improved Post Harvest Management in Ethiopia” in collaboration with and the Federal Government of Ethiopia through the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resource. The overall goal of the project is to contribute to improved food security of smallholder farmers in Ethiopia through reduction of crop postharvest losses at farm and primary cooperatives level.
Stakeholders involved
The major stakeholders of the project include: target communities, i.e., the small-scale farmers, primary cooperatives and grain traders and processors and primary cooperatives; Ministry of Agriculture (MoA); FAO; Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR); Regional Bureaus of Agriculture (BoAs); Regional Research Institutes (RARIs); Higher Learning Agricultural Institutions; Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs); other UN agencies; community-based organizations (CBOs) and the private sector.
Target areas and crops
The project is being implemented in four regions of the country – Amhara, Oromia, SNNPR and Tigray. The project is being implemented for four years (2013/14 – 2017/18).The project has identified 14 woredas as target areas of the project. The project is targeting maize, wheat, and sorghum and haricot beans considering the production potential and extent of production loss.
Components and activities
The project has four components each with one or more outputs and several activities, all collectively striding to the realization of the project’ overall goal. The outcomes/components of the project are: 1. Knowledge, attitude and practice of smallholder men and women farmers, development agents, youths and others on postharvest management improved; 2. Human resource and institutional capacity on postharvest management strengthened; 3. Food practice options for reducing postharvest losses are compiled, disseminated and scaled up and out to small holder men and women farmers; and 4. Postharvest management policy and strategy formulated.
Other material:
Baseline food loss assessment report
Detailed activities undertaken
Awareness of major stakeholders on postharvest management enhanced through various communication tools, workshops, PH platforms (see Launching workshop report), studies and exchange visits
Ethiopian postharvest web-based information network established
Baseline surveys and studies on the extent and causes of grain loss and on indigenous knowledge and best practices on PHLM conducted
The technical capacity of extension workers, development agents, farmers and farmers’ cooperative leaders and store keepers on postharvest management enhanced
The capacity of agricultural extension, regulatory, research and education institutions on postharvest management strengthened
Package of PHLM technologies and practices developed
Proven improved and indigenous postharvest technologies and practices promoted and scale up
Local production and utilization of metal silos and others PHLM options realized
Postharvest management dimensions incorporated into existing policy and strategy