Hawassa to Host Continental Conference on Postharvest Practices

Hawassa is to host a continental conference on post harvest and agro-processing starting from June 24-26, 2015, Ethiopian News Agency reported.

The conference centers on ways of bringing agricultural transformation in Africa, according to a press statement from the organizers.

Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) and the Sasakawa Africa Fund for Extension Education (SAFE) as well as Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture come together to organize the conference.

SAA Managing Director, Juliana Rwelamira said 30 percent of food produced by Africa’s smallholder farmers is lost during postharvest.

“We must improve postharvest handling, storage and the processing of agricultural produce to reduce losses, increase income, and improve livelihoods. Essentially, also, we must produce more nutritious food both for the home and the market place”, he commented.

The conference intends to discuss on ways of adopting and scaling-up good practices supported with policies and infrastructures to drive agricultural transformation in Africa.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency