Grain storage in Africa: Learning from past experiences

Rising food prices have once again drawn attention to the issue of postharvest losses and to the role that good-quality storage can play in reducing those losses. Donor support in this area is increasing. However, evidence from past interventions in Africa during the last wave of enthusiasm for work in the post-harvest area gives some cause for concern that investments in storage improvement may not be too effective. This paper briefly reviews past experiences with grain storage upgrading, from farm-level stores up to large-scale infrastructure for marketing boards and food reserves. Lessons from those experiences emphasize that storage development must not be carried out as isolated ad hoc interventions but must be seen within the context of the operations of the entire supply chain, taking full account of the way marketing systems function, the relationships within those systems, and the economic viability of proposed interventions.

openalex: W2165717974 mag: 2165717974