Post-Harvest Issues: Rethinking Technology for Value-Addition in Food Security and Food Sovereignty in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Article History The purpose of this study was to identify a number of critical issues concerning and Received: August 27th, 2015 influencing food security in Zimbabwe. Embedded within this narrative is a critical concern Accepted: September 16th, 2015 for reducing food losses and enhancing value-addition. Special focus is put on the treatment Published: September 21st, 2015 of fresh produce, especially in rural areas- be it vegetables, fruits or grain. Preservation and safety of the product are important at both the household and market levels. This study used case studies from across rural and urban Zimbabwe to establish the pressing issues surrounding Citation post-harvest management strategies. The study ascertained that Zimbabwe is naturally privi- Mandisvika G, Chirisa I, Bandauko E. Post-harvest issues: rethinking leged with fertile soils which are suitable for agriculture, but food security is threatened after technology for value-addition in food harvesting. The study produced an appreciation for the wide range of methods and structures, security and food sovereignty in such as pole-earthed granaries and vegetable drying, that are used in Zimbabwe to gain food Zimbabwe. Adv Food Technol Nutr sovereignty. Nevertheless, it was established that these methods are not effective in reducing Sci Open J. 2015; SE(1): S29-S37. post-harvest losses, hence the need to introduce modern technologies that can supplement the traditional methods of reducing losses to enhance food security.