An assessment of postharvest losses to support innovation in the egg value chain in Ghana

The study sought to examine the postharvest losses along the egg value chain in the Bono Region of Ghana. Objectively, the study sought to quantify losses incurred by value-chain actors of egg production, determine the factors that influence the losses and explore measures used by actors to minimize these losses. A total of 213 respondents were selected from the Dormaa Central Municipality, the Dormaa East and the Dormaa West districts of the Bono Region. Data were solicited from the respondents using a structured questionnaire and interviews. Descriptive statistics and heteroskedastic linear regression analysis were used to analyze the data. The study revealed that egg loss from scratching contributes largely to producers’ total egg loss while transportation loss is the major contributor to both retailers’ and wholesalers’ total loss. The sum of losses incurred on the key egg value-chain actors amounted to approximately 1048 crates (31,440 eggs) per week which is approximately GH¢12,576 (US$2,287). Factors such as experience, postharvest training and enterprise scale (small-scale, medium, large-scale) positively influenced producers’ egg loss. Conversely, education, membership of farmer-based organisation (FBO), contract with buyers and access to extension officers were identified to influence producers’ postharvest losses negatively. On the other hand, marketers’ losses were positively influenced by postharvest training, gender (male), access to credit and the vehicle used to transport the eggs. Education, the nature of roads and grading were however identified to have a negative impact on postharvest losses. Measures such as night transport, special packaging, improved storage (improved ventilation) and cleaning were identified as respondents’ measures to minimize postharvest losses. It is recommended that the Government of Ghana’s flagship project on One-district-one-factory should consider the establishment of standardized warehouses (cold rooms) to help extend the shelf live of eggs in the study area.