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| Title
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Post-harvest losses in potato value chains in Kenya
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| Subtitle
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Analysis and recommendations for reduction strategies
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| Author
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Wachira Kaguongo, Gladys Maingi and Sigrid Giencke
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| Editor or Organisation
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Kerstin Lohr, Tanja Pickardt and Heike Ostermann
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| Year
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2014
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| Keywords
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potato, post-harvest, food losses, Kenya
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| Country
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Kenya
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| Type
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publication
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| Language
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English
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| Table of Contents
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| Abstract
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This study presents an analysis of food losses in the harvesting, processing and marketing stages and identifies options for the reduction of such losses at the operational and policy level. The study was commissioned by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on behalf of BMZ.
Potato is an important food crop in Kenya and is mostly cultivated by smallholders. Per season, 19 per cent of produce is damaged or lost. Many factors contribute to the loss and damage of produce: The survey showed that up to 95 per cent of recorded damage and loss occurs at the production level and is caused in particular by limited seed availability, inappropriate harvesting tools and an insufficiently trained workforce. Of the potatoes placed on the market, nearly a quarter are damaged or green, resulting in losses or low prices at the retail level. Improved production and harvesting technologies as well as improved post-harvest handling and packaging will have great impact in combating post-harvest losses in the potato value chains of Kenya.
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| Permission
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Yes
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| Category
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| File
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