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The Post-Harvest losses ,danger to food security

 

 

 

THE HUMAN COST OF POST-HARVEST LOSSES IN ZAMBIA





By Raphael Banda

The 2024/2025 farming season, brought a lot of jubilations to farmers and the general citizenly across Zambia due to the bumper harvest the country recorded.

This bumper harvest recorded which is described by many as ‘ a blessing and restoration of food security’ comes barely few months after the country suffered the toughest drought in living memory.

The farmers’ and people’s fixed smiles, were also witnessed during the 2025 (97) Agriculture and Commercial Show which took place on the 4th of August in Lusaka, Zambia.

In as much as we appreciate farmers (writer inclusive), we need to reflect on how we handle and fight post-harvest loss at the individual and national levels.

Thousands of farmers across the country of the atleast 2.5 million registered are experiencing devastating reality (post-harvest losses) that eat our food security and income. A good portion of hard-earned crop is lost before it can be consumed or sold.

Post-harvest losses are like watching the sweat evaporate and condense to weevils and moisture at the expense of maximizing benefits.

In a country like ours where, 70% of the population depends on agriculture for food and income, this technical problem has to be dealt with. This calls for drastic action since an estimated 30%-50% of the crops harvested every year are lost due to poor post-harvest handling,storage,pest infestation and storage.

Over the years, experts have placed emphasis that causes of post-harvest losses are:

Poor storage facilities such as open sacks or traditional granaries that offer little protection to the hard-earned crops. Among other factors is lack of knowledge on drying and pest control methods.

And overreliance on harmful pesticides, which are often used incorrectly and can harm both people and the environment.

To avert this problem, there are numerous solutions like the distribution of affordable metal silos, which provide airtight storage that keeps pests and moisture out. These silos, which come in sizes suited for small farms, are increasingly being piloted in rural areas by both government and NGOs.

 

Experts are calling for the scaling up of metal silo programs, making them more widely available and affordable through subsidies or community loan schemes.

Another promising innovation is the use of eco-friendly pest control solutions, such as botanical pesticides made from neem, chili, and local herbs. These alternatives are not only safer for the environment but also cheaper and less harmful to humans.

Post-harvest losses may not make headlines, but their impact is deeply felt in every home where food spoils before it can be consumed or sold.

About the author.

1.     Media Development and climate change expert with over 15 years’ experience.

2.     Radio and Journalism Trainer.

3.     Content creator, farmer, Interpreter and Researcher.

4.     Get in touch; bandaraphael55@gmail.com. WhatsApp +260979208286

 

 

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Comments

  1. NyimaAugust 5, 2025 at 11:02 AM

    Interesting write up. It is such a sad reality. In the face of food insecurity so much is lost due to poor road network, lack of storage facilities. There is no doubt that much needs to be done by all relevant stakeholders to ensure that loses are controlled.

    ReplyDelete
  2. dasdumiAugust 13, 2025 at 11:25 PM

    Interesting write-up

    ReplyDelete

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