Post-harvest food loss in Ghana’s fruit and vegetable supply chains: Evidence from the field
Estimates indicate that approximately 30% of food spoils before reaching consumers or retailers. This policy brief presents findings from a study in Ghana examining how market structure and organisation affect food loss. Causes of food loss are compared across different farmers, locations, and crops to identify common underlying patterns.
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Ehrlich Policy Brief February 2025.pdf
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- Post-harvest food loss remains a persistent issue, with estimates indicating that approximately 30% of food spoils before reaching consumers or retailers.
- This policy brief presents findings from a study examining how market structure and organisation affect food loss.
- A nationwide survey was conducted in Ghana with over 1,500 farmers and 500 informal traders, covering over 20 different types of fruits and vegetables. Causes of food loss are compared across different farmers, locations, and crops to identify common underlying patterns.
- The findings reveal that the percentage of food loss is 1.5 times higher in areas where farmers struggle to find buyers for their crops. Farmers located far from markets experience particularly high levels of food loss, highlighting the role of market access and market structure in reducing waste.