The absence of appropriate transportation and storage systems is contributing to post-harvest losses among farmers, particularly those dealing with highly perishable crops, social
The report indicates that the absence of appropriate transportation and storage systems is contributing to post-harvest losses among farmers, particularly those dealing with highly perishable crops, social entrepreneur and innovator Mathias Charles Yabe has said.
It further notes that speaking on the 13th edition of the Loud and Green X-Space on JoyNews, Mr Yabe stated the transportation of fresh produce could result in significant losses before the food reached consumers.
He cited the experience of a lettuce farmer near the Dodowa Road who supplies produce to a buyer in Spintex.
According to him, the farmer previously transported the lettuce by Aboboya to a lorry station before continuing the journey by trotro.
He stated the produce could break and wilt during the journey, significantly reducing the farmer’s earnings.
“If the farmer is expecting to make GH¢1,500, by the time she gets to the buyer, she may end up with about GH¢700,” he said.
Mr Yabe, however, stated the losses should not simply be blamed on the farmer but should be viewed as evidence of the need for better systems to move perishable produce from farms to markets.
As part of efforts to address the challenge, Agrofresh introduced a solar-powered refrigerated tricycle.
“We recently introduced solar-powered refrigerated tricycles. These tricycles are a complementary solution to the stationary and then the mobile refrigerated units,” he said.
Mr Yabe stated the tricycle was piloted in collaboration with the Netherlands Embassy, Holland Green Tech and Eden Tree.
He stated one of the farmers who participated in the pilot reported no losses while using the refrigerated tricycle to deliver produce.
“The farmer reported zero losses when she used our tricycle for the delivery,” he said.
The intervention forms part of Agrofresh’s broader efforts to reduce post-harvest losses through solar-powered refrigeration.
Mr Yabe stated the company also builds refrigeration units that can be installed on farms and in communities to preserve fresh produce for longer periods.
