Improving Post-Harvest Handling Systems to Minimise Fruit and Vegetable Losses in Côte d'Ivoire

Fruits and vegetables are critical components of diets in Côte d'Ivoire, yet post-harvest losses often exceed 50% due to inadequate handling systems. A mixed-methods approach combining surveys, interviews, and on-site assessments was used to identify bottlenecks in current practices and propose solutions. Survey data indicated post-harvest losses of 58% for mangoes and 42% for tomatoes. Proposed interventions showed promise in reducing these losses by an average of 15%. Improved handling systems were effective in lowering fruit and vegetable losses, with significant reductions noted in mangoes (30%) and tomatoes (20%). Implementing the recommended interventions will require collaboration between government agencies, farmers' cooperatives, and private sector entities. The empirical specification follows $Y=\beta_0+\beta^\top X+\varepsilon$, and inference is reported with uncertainty-aware statistical criteria.