Post-harvest losses in rural-urban value chains: Evidence from Ethiopia

Abstract We study post-harvest losses (PHL) in important and rapidly growing rural–urban value chains Ethiopia. analyze self-reported PHL from different chain agents – farmers, wholesale traders, processors, retailers based on unique large-scale data sets for two major commercial commodities, the storable staple teff perishable liquid milk. Aggregate over all segments of (farmer to retailer) most prevalent marketing channel milk amount between 2.2 3.3 percent 2.1 4.3 total produced quantities, respectively. Estimates this research are found be lower than is commonly assumed. complement these findings with primary urban food more 4,000 commodities. find that emerging modern retail sector Ethiopia characterized average by half level observed traditional sector. This likely due stringent quality requirements procurement systems, sales packaged therefore better protected refrigeration, storage, facilities. The further expected expansion settings should lead a lowering chains, at least level.