Improving Post-harvest Management Systems
The importance of post-harvest management has been established over the years—it strengthens the action chain that produces, transports, and processes food and all other related products that give nourishment to the world population. Addressing post-harvest value chains is critical for decreasing produce waste and achieving comprehensive and sustainable food security. Enhancing post-harvest management and reducing waste boosts the country’s food security, reduces water footprint, preserves the environment and other resources used in crop production.
There is a growing demand locally for high quality and branded produce that meets international food safety standards such as acquiring certification that meets Maximum Residues Limits (MRL), cultivating produce in clean environments, and handled in improved post-harvest chains. The quality and revenue generated from Jordan’s horticulture produce is limited by a number of factors including poor post-harvest chains from farms to consumers. For the major part, growers and exporters are not organized to collectively produce and market consistent quality products that competes with domestic, regional and international market.
For that reason, HAED-Jo has developed and utilized techniques to reduce such risks and assisted in developing existing post-harvest facilities to improve the quality of yields. Our outreach activities provide technical and management support in the following key areas:
- Supporting the development of a vertically integrated post-harvest system
- Implementing post-harvest tailored solutions for growers, exporters, and community groups to realize quality and revenue improvements of their produce
- Providing technical support and advisory to Jordanian growers to improve their systems and practices
HAED-Jo is working on gradual enhancements of existing post-harvest anchor schemes with three identified partners. These farmers were identified through a grant application process based on a cost sharing scheme. This vertical integration model was selected after conducting several meetings and workshops with the horticulture community and it would ensure small farmers are supported through sub-contracts while offering them a space to expand, grow and securing them with a consistent market.
To date, HAED-Jo has developed post-harvest systems, such as cold storage facility, equipment specifications, branding, layout design, and standard storing and packaging procedures for several crops. These processes are being implemented in centralized pre-cooling facilities and utilized by farmers to promote sector collaboration. This post-harvest approach will allow farmers to utilize the advanced facilities which improves yield quality and output while assisting them in meeting the minimal pest management and plant health requirements in order to enter international markets.