The African Union Post Harvest Loss Management Strategy 2018 is intended to contribute to enhanced food and nutrition security at the Member States level through reduced post-harvest losses in food including horticultural crops, livestock and fisheries products. This Strategy is focused on four strategic issues which form the four pillars of the Strategy, namely: (a) Policy, Awareness and Institutional Capacity; (b) Knowledge Management, Data, Skills and Human Development; (c) Technology, Markets and Infrastructure; and (d) Finance and Investment. It will be operationalised in five-year cycles allowing for progressivity based on experiences gained during the implementation of the one five-year period into the next. More specifically, the strategy aims to: a. Facilitate the development and effective implementation of structurally standardised and robust post-harvest loss policies and strategies; b. Facilitate and create awareness of the impact, economic value and consequence on food security of post-harvest losses c. Facilitate the effective coordination and support of post-harvest loss initiatives by supporting the establishment of effective institutional and organisational mechanisms on PHLM; d. Support the creation, generation and dissemination of knowledge, knowledge products and best-practices in post-harvest loss and its management; e. Facilitate the development of skills and capacities in post-harvest loss management and training; f. Promote technological advancements, value addition and preservation through improved agri-business and agro-processing environment to support PHL management best practices; g. Support the development of improved markets and market infrastructure including grades and standards in post-harvest loss management throughout the agricultural value chains; h. Support the development of private sector involvement and investment in agriculture through engagement mechanisms with the private sector in PHL management to allow for leveraging on private sector expertise, finances and business interests in food and nutrition security i. Support sound practices in macro-economic governance that induce conditions conducive for financing and investment in PHLM; and j. Promote the use of smart, environmentally friendly, labour saving and gender sensitive technologies in PHLM.
2018-08-01