Determination of vegetable postharvest loss in the last-mile supply chain in Tanzania: a lean perspective

Abstract

Global population growth constrains the food supply chains. Consequently, this calls for serious efforts in minimising food wastes. Fresh vegetables are perishable in nature hence more vulnerable to postharvest losses (PHLs). This paper aims at determining PHLs experienced and establish the most prone channel for high PHLs. This study employed a case study strategy. Five popular vegetable markets were studied in Arusha City. Analytical methods were used to determine PHL both in terms of quantity and value as well as the profitability achieved by last-mile traders using tomatoes, carrots and cabbage as selected vegetables. Findings show that more PHLs occur at the retail stage and is more than twice compared to the amount at the wholesale stage. Cabbage exhibited the lowest turnover rate followed by carrots and tomatoes. Similarly, cabbage registered the highest PHL rate followed by tomato and carrots. On average, wholesalers cum retailers registered a PHL rate of about three times those of wholesalers per se. Retailers constituted 70% of respondents who acknowledged to have faced PHL. It was also found that, the longer is the chain the more PHL was sustained. The vegetable PHLs in Tanzania have remained understudied, and this study tried to cover this gap in the academia.