Article: Extent of pre-harvest and post-harvest losses and their causes: identifying critical loss points in the dried bean supply chain of the school meals program in Kajiado and Kitui counties of Kenya Journal: International Journal of Postharvest Technology and Innovation (IJPTI) 2025 Vol.10 No.5 pp.1 - 21 Abstract: The extent of pre- and post-harvest losses in supply chains linked to the home-grown school meals program (HGSMP) is not documented. This study sought to fill this gap and determine critical loss points along the dried bean supply chain of the HGSMP. The study was conducted in Kajiado and Kitui Counties. Secondary and primary data were collected for this study. Primary data was collected from all the schools implementing the HGSMP and all other supply chain actors linked to the programme within the two counties through interviews and direct measurement of the losses (load-tracking). Data was analysed using the FAO case study methodology. Producers reported quantitative losses of about 18.4% and 6.6% in Kitui and Kajiado Counties, respectively. Traders estimated quantitative losses at 5.8% and 12.6% in Kajiado and Kitui, respectively. The study revealed that the storage stage is a critical loss point for both producers and traders. Promotion of awareness and appropriate technologies and practices for storage and post-harvest handling of food commodities procured for school meals can contribute to reducing losses. Capacity building of supply chain actors on proper pre-harvest agricultural practices and post-harvest management is also essential for the reduction of pre- and post-harvest losses. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Extent of pre-harvest and post-harvest losses and their causes: identifying critical loss points in the dried bean supply chain of the school meals program in Kajiado and Kitui counties of Kenya

Authors: Esther Mujuka; Israel Leoname Frohlich Klug; Jane Ambuko; John Mburu; Carren Okumu; Rose Githumbi; Emmanuel Amwoka; Robert Ouko; Duke Gekonge

Addresses: Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053, Nairobi, Kenya ' Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 – Rome, Italy ' Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053, Nairobi, Kenya ' Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053, Nairobi, Kenya ' Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053, Nairobi, Kenya ' Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053, Nairobi, Kenya ' Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053, Nairobi, Kenya ' Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053, Nairobi, Kenya ' Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Technology, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053, Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract: The extent of pre- and post-harvest losses in supply chains linked to the home-grown school meals program (HGSMP) is not documented. This study sought to fill this gap and determine critical loss points along the dried bean supply chain of the HGSMP. The study was conducted in Kajiado and Kitui Counties. Secondary and primary data were collected for this study. Primary data was collected from all the schools implementing the HGSMP and all other supply chain actors linked to the programme within the two counties through interviews and direct measurement of the losses (load-tracking). Data was analysed using the FAO case study methodology. Producers reported quantitative losses of about 18.4% and 6.6% in Kitui and Kajiado Counties, respectively. Traders estimated quantitative losses at 5.8% and 12.6% in Kajiado and Kitui, respectively. The study revealed that the storage stage is a critical loss point for both producers and traders. Promotion of awareness and appropriate technologies and practices for storage and post-harvest handling of food commodities procured for school meals can contribute to reducing losses. Capacity building of supply chain actors on proper pre-harvest agricultural practices and post-harvest management is also essential for the reduction of pre- and post-harvest losses.

Keywords: critical loss points; food loss; pre-harvest loss; post-harvest loss; quantitative loss; qualitative loss; dried bean; storage; school meals.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPTI.2025.146891

International Journal of Postharvest Technology and Innovation, 2025 Vol.10 No.5, pp.1 - 21

Received: 08 Feb 2024
Accepted: 17 Apr 2025
Published online: 24 Jun 2025 *

Title: Extent of pre-harvest and post-harvest losses and their causes: identifying critical loss points in the dried bean supply chain of the school meals program in Kajiado and Kitui counties of Kenya

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