Regional report

Synthesis of major issues from the sub-regional reports

This summary focuses on the trends and priorities issues that were identified in each of the 5 sub-regional reports. 

Trends

The five sub-regional reports concur in identifying a number of major trends that are affecting the development of the post-harvest sector in the WANA region.  These are:

·           Food security continues to be a major issue.  Low agricultural production in most of the region, and high post-harvest losses in all the region, and thus the dependence on importation in several countries of the region (especially in the Maghreb and the Arab Peninsula sub-regions) is a major concern, and needs to be adequately addressed.

·         Although, continued population growth and very rapid urbanization, with changing food habits provide opportunities for up-grading products and for development of more convenience-oriented food products, these demographic factors are of major concern in that they generate an increased demand for food, and increased concerns for food insecurity. 

·         Food safety is of great concern in the region. Although Quality Standards are developed in some countries, they are rarely practiced.  Quality control systems are not commonly developed nor practiced in most countries of the region.  Food control laws, when exist are not fully adopted and not updated.

·         Gender inequality and difficulties faced by women, especially in the rural areas are still posing economical and social problems in the region.  Women illiteracy rates are much higher than those for men.

Priority constraints

·         Rare market oriented farming systems due to dominant small-size agriculture holdings, absence of functional farmer’s/exporters cooperatives or associations, and lack of important marketing firms.

·         Scarce water resources, poor water quality, and water conflicts are major obstacles for food production.

·         Lack of sufficient and adequate infrastructure in the post-harvest sector, inappropriate traditional post-harvest practices, reluctant of producers/distributors in adopting new and improved technologies.  This is true in almost all of the countries of the region for research, training, and for commercial handling of food: storage facilities, transport, marketing, distribution, communication, etc.

·         Poor marketing channels: poor marketing facilities, infrastructure, management, information technology and information sharing, etc.

·         Inadequate maintenance of available infrastructure and facilities.

·         Poor R & D in post-harvest in the region. Very poor investment in R&D, very poor research, education and training programs oriented to solve post-harvest problems.

·         Extension systems in post-harvest in the region are not efficient, or totally absent.

·         Shortage of trained human resources in all levels of the post-harvest sector: research, education, training, extension, supervisors, technical personnel, etc.

·         Lack of knowledge and information among consumers and the public in general regarding the health benefits of consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, and the potential health risks of the consumption of unclean products.  

·         Lack of marketing information; lack of marketing orientation in many of the sectors/stakeholders and poorly functioning, fragmented existing marketing systems.

·         High costs of production and post-production inputs.

·         Very poor and major difficulties in the access to information.

·         Unclear, inadequate or inflexible government policies/legislation in support of the post-harvest sector in most countries of the region.

·         Poor collaboration in the region at all levels: commercial, research, education, training.

·         Managerial constraints, especially in public institutions and companies: poor organization, lack of coordination, and absence of planning.

·         Very scarce or lack of adequate sources of information on post-harvest, especially in local languages.

·         Negligence and inadequate use of resources/funds.

·         Lack of effectiveness in some duties and programs.      

Priority opportunities

·           Vast bio-diversity, diverse climates in the region, diversity of products.

·           Availability of land and labor.

·           Strategic geographical position, closeness to markets.

·           Opportunity for food trade exchange within the countries of the region.

Priority for action

Based on these constraints and opportunities highlighted in the sub-regional reports, a number of priorities for future action were identified:

·           Increase availability of food by improving the production system and reducing the post-harvest losses.

·           Create a more focused market-oriented production.  Promote a change from the present supply-driven production to a market-oriented production.  This will require certain adjustments in the current production-marketing system to ensure an effective and efficient marketing system.  Incentives and assurance of the presence of marketing opportunities for selling the produce will help in convincing producers to adopt such a strategy.

·           Improve produce safety and quality.  Establishing and implementing safety procedures and quality standards.  Intensive and constant/consistent educational programs for consumers related to the nutritional and health benefits of clean horticultural crops, and the possible health risks of contaminated products, are in desperate need.    

·           Greater participation of, and collaboration with the private sector.

·           Human resource development.

·           Upgrading capability.

·           Implementing coordinated research programs.  Research and development on post-harvest should be promoted and given priority.  Universities and research institutes should give priority to applied research programs.  Research should cover aspects of direct concerns to producers, consumers and exporters.

·           Promote post-harvest education and training, especially for producers, distributors, consumers, exporters and importers.    

·           Adoption of new governmental policies and legislation for improving agriculture in general with emphasis on the post-harvest sector.  Most of the present governmental policies and legislation hinder the development of the post-harvest sector, since most emphasis is placed on the production sector.

·           Increase, promote and protect the participation of the public sector investment in food production, preservation and distribution.

·           Create credit institutions to provide soft long-term loans for financing marketing infrastructure.  The introduction of new production technologies and the establishment and/or the upgrading of present facilities to meet the demand of increasing sophisticated markets require large investment which are beyond the capabilities of most farmers, agribusiness enterprises and exporters.  Credit institutions for financing such projects are needed.

·           Formulating and implementing an effective export promotion strategy, such as improving the image of regional products in the export markets, developing specific campaigns for single products, imposing quality standards on exported foods, etc.  

·           Enhance regional cooperation.

·           Developing efficient market structures locally and for export.  Adequate market infrastructure, and better management and organizations of the local markets are in desperate need.       

·           Establishing an effective market information/intelligence service. An effective market information service is a key factor in improving the production and marketing decision of farmers, traders, exporters, and consumers.  Such a service needs to be organized and managed in a way that ensures the provision of reliable and timely market information that responds to the specific needs of clients and assists them in taking their daily marketing decisions.  The system should also be able to identify and address information gaps and respond to future information needs.

·           Promote/facilitate access to information, and to communication among all actors of the post-harvest sector in the region: producers, distributors, importers, exporters, educators, researchers, extension specialists, etc, through traditional as well as new communication tools.

·           Adequate sources of information in different forms (books, bulletins, leaflets, videos, slides, etc.), especially in local languages (Arabic, Urdu, Persian, Turkish) are in desperate need. These should cover specific aspects of the post-harvest sector and need to be directed to specific segments of the actors of the post-harvest sector.

·           Special and urgent attention should be directed toward improving knowledge and skills for women in regard to nutrition, food preservation, simple food processing techniques, safety measures for handling/consumption of food, hygiene, etc.  Promote the active involvement and participation of women in all the post-harvest sector activities (education, training, management).