The dynamics of Africa’s fruit and vegetable processing sectors

The production of fruits and vegetables (F&V) in Africa has increased 3.3 percent annually during the last 20 years, but only 0.7 percent in per capita terms (FAOSTAT 2022; Figure 3.1). Africa has the lowest per capita production and consumption of F&V in the world, although South Africa, Morocco, and Egypt are large producers and exporters

Innovations for inclusive and sustainable growth of domestic food value chains: Fruits and vegetables value chains in Nigeria scoping report

Fruits & vegetable value chains (F&V VC) in Nigeria hold significant potential to continue toward sustainable, inclusive food system transformation. Domestic food system growth, including that of F&V, remains crucial in achieving a healthy food environment and serving as a source of various micronutrients. There is a need for bundles of innovations to address multiple challenges along F&V VC in Nigeria, characterized by a set of challenges that are unique to developing countries and F&V. V&F VC consists of many small actors, farmers, and traders, whereby limited vertical coordination can lead to significant efficiency loss along the value chain. Seasonal and temporal variations in supply-demand gaps for F&V commodities are substantial, and considerable scope exists for reducing losses and enhancing the overall efficiency of the domestic F&V sector. Policy environments are also favorable for such efforts, as the latest Agricultural Policy documents highlight the Nigerian government’s interest in modernizing F&V VC. Given the significant involvement of women and youths in the sector, F&V VC development has substantial potential to contribute to Nigeria's inclusive development of agrifood systems. The current domestic F&V VC in Nigeria suffers from various sets of problems. Access to quality seeds is limited due to the significant use of recycled seeds, limited supply, and high costs of certified seeds. Cooling practices are inefficient due to insufficient access to the grid and off-grid electricity, limited knowledge of intermediate cooling methods applicable at the farm gate, and constraining quality preservations at farm gate storage, during transportation, and storage at market premises. Processing is insufficient due to the high costs of processing equipment and limited knowledge of the construction and operation of simpler, less resource-dependent processing facilities, including drying of F&V commodities. Inappropriate packing, such as the use of Rafia baskets instead of Reusable Plastic Crates, which are commonly recognized, is still prevalent, potentially due to limited market coordination. Based on the stakeholder consultations, desk reviews, validation workshops, and availability of external resources, we identified the following as critical interventions to pilot various innovation bundles. Intervention #1 provides improved varieties and quality seeds, combined with agronomy training and certification, in northern Nigeria through the collaboration with East West Seeds and Wageningen University & Research. Intervention #2 provides off-grid cooling and cool transportation, including forced-air evaporative cooling units at farm clusters and the combination of small and large refrigerated trucks for local and longer-distance transportation, through the collaboration with ColdHubs and MIT-Lab. Intervention #3 introduces improved solar dryers and provides training on appropriate, hygienic processing methods, building, and utilization of these driers (possibly combined with the introduction of a business model), through the collaboration with World Vegetable Center and Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute. Intervention #4 provides plastic crates using various rental arrangements and improves market access for farmers through collaboration with private companies, including Bunkasa. Intervention #5 supplements interventions #1, #2, and #3 and provides improved information through certification and labeling. Lastly, Intervention #6 strengthens linkages between existing solar powered cold storages to supplement other interventions

Factors Influencing The Density Of Termite Mounds On Agricultural Land: An Evidence From The Pendjari Region (North-Benin)

In north Benin in general and particulary in the Pendjari region, smallholder farmers earn low incomes because their agricultural production has been confronted with both soil fertility declining and expensive chemical fertilizers. So they may find alternative to chemical fertilizer to mitigate the decline of the soil fertility. Then termite fertility effect becomes an option free of charge to be explored by the farmers. The objective of this study is to assess factors affecting the density of termite mound on a crop plot. For this purpose, a Hierarchical Multiple Regression (HMR) was estimated by using empirical data collected in the villages of Batia and Dassari in Tanguiéta and Matéri Districts, respectively. The sampling was in random, including 382 crop plots belonging to 152 farmers. The analysis revealed that the density of termite mound on a crop plot is mainly affected by the farming system data than the personal data. So, it appears important to advise farmers on termite mound fertility effect and management of termite mounds density on agricultural lands as a measure to improve soil fertility

Cooperatives and sustainability: The case of maize producers in the plateaux region of Togo

This study analyzed the influence of the producer's organizational form (individual or cooperative) on the three dimensions (economic, social and environmental) of sustainability in the Plateaux Region of Togo. An innovative approach called Deep Participatory Indicator-Based (DPIB) was used to target the analysis at the producer local level. The environmental sustainability score was above average for individual producers compared to cooperatives. Economic sustainability score is not related to the producer's organization form. Social sustainability was not dependent on the form of organization. The analyses led to participatory planning and actions based on three cooperative principles. Actions based on the seventh cooperative principle – Concern for Community - raise awareness among cooperators producers on the importance of carrying out social works, agro-ecological practices and sustainable agriculture for community members. The actions related to the fifth and sixth cooperative principles – Education, Training & Information and Cooperation among Cooperatives, strengthen the capacities of cooperatives on the need to seek higher quality markets and inform coops in the region about opportunities for combined marketing actions