Improving Post-Harvest Handling to Minimise Losses in Fruits and Vegetables of Côte d'Ivoire: A Comparative Study

Fruits and vegetables in Côte d'Ivoire face significant losses post-harvest due to inadequate handling practices. A comparative study involving three main interventions: refrigerated storage, controlled atmosphere packaging, and improved transportation routes. Data collected through surveys and field observations over a period of six months in two regions of Côte d'Ivoire. - Refrigerated storage significantly reduced fruit loss by approximately 35% compared to non-refrigerated conditions. - Controlled atmosphere packaging showed an average reduction of 20% in vegetable losses, with higher reductions observed for leafy greens (18%) versus root vegetables (14%). - Improved transportation routes led to a 10% increase in overall post-harvest survival rates. The study demonstrated that combining refrigerated storage and improved transportation routes provided the most effective loss reduction strategy, with an average of 30% decrease in losses across all tested fruits and vegetables. Implement a comprehensive package of interventions including refrigerated storage facilities, controlled atmosphere packaging for leafy greens, and enhanced road networks to minimise post-harvest losses effectively. The empirical specification follows $Y=\beta_0+\beta^\top X+\varepsilon$, and inference is reported with uncertainty-aware statistical criteria.