**4. Improvement of postharvest technology in developing countries through recapitalisation**

As noted in the previous section, insufficient capital and technology in developing countries cause the wastage of many crops at postharvest stages. This section considers various measures and attending challenges to improvement in developing countries. Specifically, capital investments are essential to the improvement of postharvest crop handling; however, such investments generally require a large sum of money, and producers in many developing countries cannot afford to cover such costs. Therefore, one of the most feasible approaches relies on development support through foundation bodies (i.e. international organisations or wealthy countries). The logical concern of foundation bodies is whether the expected result of support (i.e. reduction of postharvest loss in developing countries) will be sufficient to cover investment costs. If such development support does not adequately reduce the postharvest loss, the foundation bodies will consider the development support to have been unsuccessful. Some studies have noted that, although capital for handling postharvest crops is available, sufficient reduction of postharvest loss is not achieved. According to a study that conducted interviews with participants in Egypt, Indonesia, Kenya, Ghana and India, the simpler the postharvest technology, the better it's chance of adoption, sustainability and long-term use, and the opposite is also true [7]. This is mainly because local farmers cannot fully utilise complicated postharvest technology that requires [7]. Moreover, extension services for farmers are shown to be effective in reducing postharvest losses of rice crops in Bangladesh [8].

It has also been reported that even if the capital is well equipped, the results from support will vary depending on how the farmers grow their crops. In the Ludhiana and Ferozepur district of Punjab, wheat harvesting losses are high during late harvesting due to the shattering of grains; hence, it is asserted that the farmers should be advised to undertake timely wheat crop harvesting to minimise harvesting losses [9]. Moreover, a significant number of horticultural crops in developing countries such as Ethiopia are wasted because most of these crops are produced by small-scale farmers with limited knowledge and financial sources [10].

In developing countries, crop prices are also volatile, and this volatility can affect investment outcomes. When making a capital investment for storage, if a crop is traded at a high price, the return on the investment exceeds its cost; however, if a crop is traded at a low price, the opposite is true and the capital investment is considered unsuccessful [11].

Some studies have argued that proper grading systems for postharvest food will help to reduce postharvest losses. For example, one study argues that better handling, packing and grading are needed to reduce postharvest grape losses in Pakistan, noting that if there are only grade 'A' grapes in a crate, the retailer will obtain

#### *Challenges and Measures to Recapitalise Handling of Postharvest Crops in Developing… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.101222*

much higher net revenue for the same price as multiple crates of poor grade grapes [12]. A research survey revealed that a crate had 17% damaged grapes, on average; out of which 11% was wastage [12]. Some studies have focused on crop packing to reduce postharvest loss. For example, one study endeavoured to design modified atmosphere packaging for postharvest mushroom storage [13]. The proposed packaging alters the normal composition of air to provide an appropriate atmosphere to decrease products' respiration rate [13].

Some studies have attempted to reduce postharvest loss through supply chain development. It was confirmed that rice production capacity in Nigeria significantly improved to ensure food security; however, postharvest rice crops are not sufficiently distributed to consumers due to a lack of a postharvest management system [14]. The authors argue that technologies are available but are not in the hands of farmers and other actors in the rice value chain; thus, the dissemination of existing technologies for managing postharvest crops is required [14]. Another study argues that management of temperature and humidity (i.e. refrigerated transportation, cold storage at wholesale distribution centres, refrigerated retail display and cold storage at home) are essential for reducing postharvest crop losses [15]. The authors conclude that there are three steps to reduce postharvest losses: first, application of current knowledge to improve the handling systems of horticultural perishables (particularly packaging and cold chain maintenance); second, overcoming socioeconomic constraints, such as infrastructural inadequacies and poor marketing systems; third, encouraging consolidation and vertical integration among producers and marketers of horticultural crops [15].

As noted, postharvest losses in developing countries occur due to a lack of capital investment for infrastructure to handle postharvest crops; however, simply providing capital does not always reduce postharvest losses, as there are multiple issues to consider. For example, if the installation accommodated by capital is not fully utilised, reduction of postharvest loss will not be achieved. To do so, local producers must be trained to make full use of the equipment and supply chain improvement is also necessary.
