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Measuring postharvest losses at the farm level in Malawi

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  • Ambler, Kate
  • Brauw, Alan de
  • Godlonton, Susan

Abstract

This article measures farm-level postharvest losses for maize, soya and groundnuts among 1,200 households in Malawi. Farmers answered a detailed questionnaire designed to learn about losses during harvest and transport, processing and storage and which measures both complete losses and crop damage. The findings indicate that fewer than half of households report suffering losses conditional on growing each crop. Conditional on losses occurring, the loss averages between 5 and 12 per cent of the farmer’s total harvest. Compared to nationally representative data that measure losses using a single survey question, this study documents a far greater percentage of farmers experiencing losses. We find that losses are concentrated in harvest and processing activities for groundnuts and maize; for soya, they are highest during processing. Existing interventions have primarily targeted storage activities; however, these results suggest that targeting other activities may be worthwhile.

Suggested Citation

  • Ambler, Kate & Brauw, Alan de & Godlonton, Susan, 2018. "Measuring postharvest losses at the farm level in Malawi," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 62(1), January.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:aareaj:313565
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.313565
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    Cited by:

    1. Abdelrahman Ali & Chunping Xia & Moustafa Ismaiel & N’Banan Ouattara & Irfan Mahmood & Dessalegn Anshiso, 2021. "Analysis of determinants to mitigate food losses and waste in the developing countries: empirical evidence from Egypt," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 26(6), pages 1-26, August.
    2. Godlonton, Susan & Hernandez, Manuel A. & Paz, Cynthia, 2021. "Can survey design reduce anchoring bias in recall data? Evidence from Malawi," IFPRI discussion papers 2055, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    3. Delavallade, Clara & Godlonton, Susan, 2023. "Locking crops to unlock investment: Experimental evidence on warrantage in Burkina Faso," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    4. Marshall Burke & Lauren Falcao Bergquist & Edward Miguel, 2019. "Sell Low and Buy High: Arbitrage and Local Price Effects in Kenyan Markets," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 134(2), pages 785-842.
    5. Daniel Kpienbaareh & Kamaldeen Mohammed & Isaac Luginaah & Jinfei Wang & Rachel Bezner Kerr & Esther Lupafya & Laifolo Dakishoni, 2022. "Estimating Groundnut Yield in Smallholder Agriculture Systems Using PlanetScope Data," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-19, October.
    6. Ambler, Kate & Godlonton, Susan & Recalde, María P., 2021. "Follow the leader? A field experiment on social influence," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 1280-1297.
    7. Freudenreich, Hanna & Musshoff, Oliver, 2022. "Experience of losses and aversion to uncertainty - experimental evidence from farmers in Mexico," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    8. Bo Yan & Gaodi Liu & Zhenyu Zhang & Chang Yan, 2020. "Optimal financing and operation strategy of fresh agricultural supply chain," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 64(3), pages 776-794, July.
    9. Luo, Na & Olsen, Tava & Liu, Yanping & Zhang, Abraham, 2022. "Reducing food loss and waste in supply chain operations," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    10. Vandercasteelen, Joachim & Christiaensen, Luc, 2020. "Breaking down silos: On post-harvest loss interventions in Tanzania," Policy briefs 1247693176, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    11. Curzi, Daniele & Nota, Paolo & Di Falco, Salvatore, 2022. "Post-Harvest Losses and Climate Conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa," 96th Annual Conference, April 4-6, 2022, K U Leuven, Belgium 321219, Agricultural Economics Society - AES.
    12. Yan, Bo & Liu, Gaodi & Zhenyu, Zhang & Chang, Yan, 2020. "Optimal financing and operation strategy of fresh agricultural supply chain," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 64(3), July.
    13. Delgado, Luciana & Schuster, Monica & Torero, Maximo, 2021. "Quantity and quality food losses across the value Chain: A Comparative analysis," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    14. Luciana Delgado & Monica Schuster & Maximo Torero, 2021. "On the origins of food loss," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 43(2), pages 750-780, June.
    15. Mequanint B. Melesse & Marrit Berg & Christophe Béné & Alan Brauw & Inge D. Brouwer, 2020. "Metrics to analyze and improve diets through food Systems in low and Middle Income Countries," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 12(5), pages 1085-1105, October.
    16. Negede, Betelhem M. & Voors, Maarten & De Groote, Hugo & Minten, Bart, 2021. "Maize Price Seasonality in Ethiopia: Does Access to Improved Grain Storage Technology Matter for Farmers’ Welfare?," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315240, International Association of Agricultural Economists.

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