Thank you for the invitation to contribute to this forum.
There are many postharvest needs that are typically neglected by development projects, value chain upgrades and agri-business ventures. The resources needed by women and youths who are involved in the food system include rapid assessments (to determine local causes and sources of postharvest problems), cost/benefit analyses, training for extension workers, training for growers, traders, food processors and marketers, access to tools, equipment for quality control, cooling of perishables, storage of staple crops, supplies such as improved containers for perishables, jars or bottles for processing, proper packaging for dried foods, and services such as transport to markets. A pilot project undertaken in Tanzania with funding from USAID provides an example of this integrated approach: the PTSC in Arusha (housed at AVRDC and Njiro) includes training for women's groups, demos of appropriate technologies, postharvest tools and equipment, a retail shop and services. LK
Lisa Kitinoja