For rural households, lost food means more than lost land, labour, seeds and fertilizer. It represents up to 100% loss of income, due to the loss of surplus crop to sell. Farmers are trapped in a cycle of subsistence, depriving them the opportunity to grow and strengthen their businesses. Inappropriate post-harvest management also leads to higher levels of crop contamination, in particular aflatoxin, which create serious health risks to all consumers.
Farm to Market Alliance educates farmers on proven ways to eliminate post-harvest losses through effective Post-Harvest Handling and Storage (PHHS) practices. The training focuses on the six principles of good post-harvest management for traditional staple crops, and participating farmers can purchase the required post-harvest storage equipment. This allows farmers to have with greater control over preserving the quality and quantity of their crops. Besides, FtMA develops the production and delivery capacity of local equipment manufacturers and distributors.
