Extension of Small-Scale Postharvest Horticulture Technologies—A Model Training and Services Center

Lisa Kitinoja,Diane Barrett

doi:10.3390/agriculture5030441

Abstract

A pilot Postharvest Training and Services Center (PTSC) was launched in October 2012 in Arusha, Tanzania as part of a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded project. The five key components of the PTSC are (1) training of postharvest trainers, (2) postharvest training and demonstrations for local small-scale clientele, (3) adaptive research, (4) postharvest services, and (5) retail sales of postharvest tools and supplies. During the years of 2011–2012, a one year e-learning program was provided to 36 young horticultural professionals from seven Sub-Saharan African countries. These postharvest specialists went on to train more than 13,000 local farmers, extension workers, food processors, and marketers in their home countries in the year following completion of their course. Evaluators found that these specialists had trained an additional 9300 people by November 2014. When asked about adoption by their local trainees, 79% reported examples of their trainees using improved postharvest practices. From 2012–2013, the project supported 30 multi-day training programs, and the evaluation found that many of the improved practices being promoted were adopted by the trainees and led to increased earnings. Three PTSC components still require attention. Research activities initiated during the project are incomplete, and successful sales of postharvest goods and services will require commitment and improved partnering.

Highlights

A United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded project in East Africa of a new model for extension of postharvest technologies was piloted during 2010–2014 under the Horticulture CRSP (Collaborative Research Support Program, known as the Horticulture Innovation Lab, Davis, CA, USA) at the University of California (UC)at Davis
The project operated as planned in Northern Tanzania (2012–2014), training young horticultural professionals from seven countries (Benin, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda) as “Postharvest Specialists” and was followed six months later by USAID Save the Children/Technical and Operational Performance Support (TOPS)-funded evaluation studies (October 2014–May 2015)
Internet database searches show that less than one in 2000 agricultural projects undertaken globally have focused on fresh produce handling and marketing, according to advanced searches undertaken in five major online databases during 2010 (AidData [3]; USAID Documents [4]; World Bank [5]; United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (UN FAO)

Summary

Introduction

A USAID-funded project in East Africa of a new model for extension of postharvest technologies was piloted during 2010–2014 under the Horticulture CRSP (Collaborative Research Support Program, known as the Horticulture Innovation Lab, Davis, CA, USA) at the University of California (UC)at Davis. A USAID-funded project in East Africa of a new model for extension of postharvest technologies was piloted during 2010–2014 under the Horticulture CRSP (Collaborative Research Support Program, known as the Horticulture Innovation Lab, Davis, CA, USA) at the University of California (UC). Project partners included the Department of Food Science and Technology at UC Davis, the International Programs office at the World Food Logistics Organization (WFLO, Alexandria, VA, USA), the University of Georgia, and the Asian Vegetable Research Development Center (AVRDC)—The. World Vegetable Center (Arusha, Tanzania), and additional financial support and in-kind technical support was provided by postharvest specialists from The Postharvest Education Foundation (PEF), in which the authors are founding board members. About 25% of the kcal of cereals and of seafood produced are lost or wasted

Objectives

Results

Conclusion