Perishable postharvest losses in selected Eastern Caribbean countries : causes and recommendations

This report, based on visits to St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Dominica, and Barbados, explores the determinants of crop loss in the context of the larger marketing and distribution systems and identifies interventions with potentially broad economic impact. While the authors state that precise figures for losses are neither possible nor presently necessary, estimates range from 10% for some durable crops to 60% for more perishable crops. The major cause of crop loss is overproduction which leads to periodic gluts. Overproduction results primarily from ignorance of market demand due to the absence of agricultural and market information and an inefficient marketing system. Other causes of crop loss include the fact that premium prices are not paid for quality products; the unavailability of appropriate and economical technology for reducing on-farm and postharvest losses; the limited use of packing materials designed to minimize loss; unreliable inter-island shipping; inadequate or nonexistant storage and handling facilities; rough and multiple crop handling; and non-use of crops not sold for human consumption. The authors thus recommend testing three measures which rely on available technology. (1) Current local and regional agricultural market and price data must be regularly collected and analyzed to allow farmers to make informed planting decisions. (2) To maintain crop quality, farmers must be trained in and provided the means for timely and proper harvesting and handling of their crop; simple structures should be built to guard the harvest from the sun; standardized, loss-reducing packaging must be used; and inter-island transport should be regularized. (3) Finally, crops not fit for human consumption should be used for animal feed or fertilizer. Detailed schedules and workplans for implementing these recommendations are included. Appended are a table of optimum conditions for storage of selected crops, a partial listing of contacts, a 14-item list (1975-81) of sources cited, and maps and schematics of the marketing systems on the four islands.