Post Harvest Loss

An estimated $100 to $150 million in annual losses for perishable goods, despite the widespread hunger and poverty

a bunch of green bananas hanging from a tree

Problem Statement

Post harvest loss is significant in Somalia and remain a major barrier to food security, poverty reduction, and rural economic sustainability. These losses occur at various stages - from harvesting, transport, storage, processing and marketing. The losses significantly erode the value of rural production system. Several reports and studies have documented the extent of these losses:

UN Office in Somalia (2025) - reported the average grain losses are estimated at 20-30% of the harvest equivalent to about 50,000 to 80,000 tons of cereals annually, valued at about $15 to $20 million
The African Postharvest Losses Information system (2022) - estimated sorghum post-harvest losses of about 11.8% of production, equivalent of about 14,379 tons.
World Bank report (2018) - also indicated that under traditional storage systems of post-harvest losses may reach up to 40%.

These losses reduce available food, lower farm incomes, exacerbate poverty, and increase vulnerability to climate shocks and market disruptions. The cumulative impact is that small farmers and producers—who are already facing marginalisation, resource scarcity, and climate risks—lose a significant portion of their agricultural output before it ever reaches the market or contributes to household food security and income. This undermines the potential for agriculture to drive rural development, reduce hunger, and stabilize livelihoods.

Root Causes

Inadequate storage facilities – Farmers rely on traditional methods such as underground pits and open-air storage, which expose produce to pests, mold, and moisture damage.
Poor post-harvest handling – Lack of knowledge and tools for proper drying, cleaning, and packaging contributes to contamination and spoilage.
Limited access to transport and rural infrastructure – Poor roads and lack of cold-chain systems lead to delays and physical damage to perishable goods.
Weak market systems – Farmers lack access to structured markets and aggregation centers, leading to oversupply in local markets and price collapse after harvest.
Climate-related factors – High temperature, humidity, and unpredicted rainfall.

Impacts

Food insecurity: Up to one-third of food produced never reaches households, deepening hunger and malnutrition.
Income loss for smallholders: Reduced earnings prevent reinvestment in farming, perpetuating poverty cycles.
National economic loss: Reduced agricultural output weakens trade balance and increases dependence on food imports.
Rural-urban migration: Persistent post-harvest losses push youth and families to migrate in search of alternative income, worsening urban poverty.
Environmental degradation: Food waste contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and inefficient land and water use.

Solutions

Somali Rural Development Center is committed to a multi-dimensional approach to support farmers and producers to reduce post-harvest losses and strengthen rural livelihoods, including:

Capacity building and extension services - train small farmers and producers on improved post-harvesting, such as drying, storage and packaging
Support for Rural Infrastructure Development - feeder roads, storage warehouses and collection centers
Adaptation of Nature-Based solutions -Use climate-smart storage
Market Access and Value Addition - Support the formation of cooperatives, promote small-scale agro-processing.

Our Goal