05 Sep 2024

The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA)  in collaboration with Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)  are training farmers in North East District on how to handle farm produce to help raise national food security.

Speaking during the three-day workshop, which commenced September 4, Ministry of Agriculture District Crop Production Officer for North East, Ms Goitseone Mvelase  said the training was the ministry’s effort to reduce wastage, which happened in the production value chain. Ms Mvelase also commended FAO for its important role in providing technical support towards the success of the project titled: Supporting the attainment of food security through reduction of post-harvest losses (PHL) in horticultural crops.

“MoA and FAO are a good example of team work, as they are both working towards the same goal of availing good quality food”, she added. “The importance of Post-Harvest losses (PHL) prevention cannot be over-emphasised. No PHL means more food is availed for human consumption.”

 FAO AgricuIture Specialist, Mr Obakeng Modongo said that it was evident that improper handling of fruits and vegetables along the supply chain led to significant wastage, resulting in the loss of valuable food resources.

 Mr Modongo said that these losses not only undermined the government’s efforts towards achieving food security but also exacerbated the already fragile economies in rural communities. He stated that the post-harvest management of horticultural crops in Botswana had not received the attention it deserved as considerable losses still occur during both the harvest and post-harvest phases, and it was crucial to develop strategies to reduce these losses.

“It is our hope that through this training, key stakeholders across the horticulture value chain will gain a comprehensive understanding of the issue and the impacts of post-harvest losses. Armed with the knowledge and skills hopefully they can then effectively reduce post harvest losses in horticulture produce, hence improving food security in our nation” he stated.

Mr Modongo pointed out that  the far-reaching impact of post-harvest losses should be recongised, beyond just reducing the total amount and quality of available food, adding that the  losses eroded income generation along the food value chain, particularly in poverty-ridden rural economies.

“By addressing post-harvest losses and implementing sound post-harvest management practices, we can make a tangible difference in improving food security,” he said. ENDS