Grain Post-Harvest Loss Prevention GPLP

Project completed
Dodoma, Tanzania © SDC

The SDC support to Grain Post Harvest Management in Tanzania is going to increase rural household food security and improve livelihoods through the promotion of better storage methods using metal silos and other improved postharvest storage technologies at household level. The project reduces postharvest grain losses leading to increased availability and quality of food for home consumption and income generation by addressing systemic impediments to improved household grain storage.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Tanzania
Agriculture & food security
Employment & economic development
Agricultural development
Agriculture value-chain development (til 2016)
SME development
01.10.2010 - 31.12.2017
CHF  5’734’000
Background

85% of Tanzania’s population (44.9 million people, census 2012) live in rural areas and rely on agriculture as their main source of income and livelihood. Small holders (with less than 3 hectares) constitute the majority of the population, 74% of which are women. Tanzania’s real agricultural growth at approximately 4.4% (2011) is much below the national target of 10% and rural poverty and household food insecurity are still high. Post harvest losses (PHL) are high in the range of 15 to 40% for different crops, but are of particular concern for grains (30%), especially cereals and pulses, which form the base for food and income for a majority of rural Tanzanians. Past agriculture strategies have not paid adequate attention to PHL issues in efforts to increase food and income security. Although currently the policy environment is more receptive to the importance of grain PHL, the household level, where the greatest losses occur, is still neglected.

Objectives

Reduced post harvest losses in food grains in the Central Corridor of Tanzania and improved food security and incomes for targeted farming households as well as rural employment through appropriate technology, capacity building and informed policy.

Target groups

Small farmers in the Central Corridor, tinsmiths, hardware suppliers, local training institutions.

Medium-term outcomes
  1. Targeted 20’000 smallholder households have a better capacity to store grains.
  2. Metal silo market and alternative post-harvest technology markets are in place.
  3. Post harvest policies and framework conditions in Tanzania are improved.

 

Results

Results from previous phases:  

This is the first phase and it intends to replicate the similar successful SDC Project in Central America known as Postcosecha. CIMMYT, the International Wheat and Maize Center established that such a replication for the Eastern and Southern Africa is possible. A feasibility study conducted by SDC in 2012 in the central corridor of Tanzania recommends the approach with adaptations to suit the context (facilitation of access of poor farmers to finance).


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Development cooperation
Project partners Contract partner
Swiss Non-profit Organisation
  • HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation
  • Subcontractors: Economic and Social Research Forum (ESRF), Radio Free Africa (RFA), Social and Economic Development Initiatives in Tanzania (SEDIT), Tanzania Industry Research and Development Organization (TIRDO), VK Consultants


Other partners

Farmers associations, small industries development organisations, private sector, development partners, government ministries, central and local government, and research institutions.

Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    5’734’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    5’407’061
Project phases Phase 2 01.11.2017 - 31.03.2020   (Completed)

Phase 1 01.10.2010 - 31.12.2017   (Completed)