Sustainable solution to reduce food losses and waste in

Banana post harvest activities in Ethiopia

Sirine Ben M’rad

Ayantu Tadesse
 Outline

 Introduction

 Main causes of postharvest loss in banana

 Supply chain in banana

 Solutions/suggestion
 Why we choose the banana?
1. Banana highly production in Ethiopia

 68% (478,251.04 ton) of the total fruit

produced, and

 38.3% (2,574.035 ton) of the total fruit

producing farmers.

 Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples

(SNN) produces 77.52% (370,784.17 ton)

2. Perishable product
Why we choose the banana…
3. In the south and southwestern parts of the country : it
is of great socioeconomic rural communities including
food security, income generation and job creation.
(Witmer et.al,2019)

4. Highly consumed in Ethiopia

 Main cause of post harvest loss
1. Improper mode of transportation
 lack of cool-chain management
 inadequate road infrastructure(shock)
 rough produce handling, lack post harvest treatments, etc.)

2. Absence of packinghouses close to major production areas

3.Harvesting techniques
 losses ranging from 26.5% (Mulualem et al., 2015) to 30-40% (Dawit Alemu et al., 2008)
Annex Figure4. Farm gate banana collection centers,i.e.roadside (upper left), under tree
shade (upper right) and open sun (bottom)

Annex figure 5 Banana bunches being loaded at farm gate collection centers and
transported to regional/central wholesale markets Woldu et.al,2015
 Marketed supply of banana (average
annual= 355200 qun)
10% 62%
28%
state farm non member of
Member of cooperative
and unions cooperative and unions
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ETFRUT Brokers

5% 95 % Primary
Wholesaler
ETFRUT 100%
retailing Secondary
outlets Wholesaler
100% 85% 1%
14%
Tertiary
Wholesaler Exporters

100%
Retailers 100%
Consumer
Export
Price of banana during different supply chain
with decreases of quality

Central
SNN ETHIOPIA North Ethiopia
ETHIOPIA

3kg 1kg 1/2kg

0 km 450 km 700 km
(Woldu et.al,2015)
 Objective : Ensure a prolonged shelf life for bananas

Save food
Energy Safety

Reduce Food Implemenred

Losses and by
waste smallholders
Sustainable solutions

10
 Living Labster Approach : Living labs is agricultural approach, which brings
together farmers, scientists, and other collaborators to develop and test
innovative practices and technologies.
 The goal is to accelerate the development and adoption of sustainable practices by
farmers.
 Focusing on farmers needs/road and diverse partnerships/Testing in the real-
life context

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Postharvest sensitivity traits of bananas: Biological causes of deterioration

High
Climacteric
respiration
fruit water stress
rate after
harvest

mechanical
Ethylene injuries and
Production physiological
disorders

The rate of biological deterioration depends on

several environmental factors including:
• Temperature
• Relative humidity
• Air velocity
Ethylene
• Atmospheric composition 12
Production
• Sanitation procedure (Gebeyehu.2019)
Harvesting technique : “HANDLING” The cutting position

1.Horizontal cut

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2.Vertical cut
Storage Building : A storage structure constructed using clay-based
materials

 Natural and sustainable Materials : Clay

 Thermal Comfort : Cooling system by natural
ventilation
 Energy Efficiency
 Cost-Effectiveness
 Adaptability
 Temperature and Humidity Control
 Protection from Ethylene
 Protect from exposure to light 14
Slowing down the ripening process helps reduce losses
and Extending shelf Life of bananas
 15

Banana By-Product
 Packaging containers made from banana fiber by-
products

 Shock Absorption  Thermal Insulation

 Renewable Resource
 Moisture Resistance
 Strength and 16
Durability
Bedding and roof
to protect heat Wrapping
Dried Banana

 Over ripened banana -------------------Dried banana

Thank you for your attention

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References
 Ambisa, Z., Tesfa, B., Olani, T., & Abdeta, D. (2019). Review on the production and marketing of
banana in Ethiopia. World Journal of Agriculture and Soil Science, 2(1), 1-9.
 Witmer, G. W., Campbell III, E. W., & Boyd, F. (1998). Rat management for endangered species
protection in the US Virgin Islands. In Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference (Vol. 18,
No. 18).
 Woldu, Z., Mohammed, A., Belew, D., Shumeta, Z., & Bekele, A. (2015). Assessment of banana
postharvest handling practices and losses in Ethiopia. Assessment, 5(17), 82-96.