RELOAD

Post-Harvest losses (PHL) destroy between 20 and 60% of the East-African food production, thus heavily contributing to the devastating nutritional situation. RELOAD proposes to establish a development oriented inter- and transdisciplinary African-German Research Network in Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia, to address reduction of PHL and enhancing value addition. It is therefore a transdisciplinary research based project with scientists, practitioners and other social actors.

One subproject focuses on dairy supply chains in Kenya. Cow milk is currently Kenya’s most important agricultural commodity, both in terms of quantity produced and in terms of value (FAOSTAT 2011). Milk is produced predominantly by smallholders. High losses occur at almost all points along the dairy value chain – comprising both losses in volume (spillage) and in value (spoilage), e.g. spillage of milk during milking, on farm handling and transport until the point of reception, spoilage due to contamination and microbial activity on‐farm, as well as during transport and processing, and economic losses due to high price fluctuations between seasons and low net profit margins for the producers.

Another subproject concerns the pineapple supply chain in Uganda. More details will be updated soon. 

contact person:
Carolin Brix-Asala

Further information on the project you will find here.