What does investing in women have to do with reducing post-harvest losses? Everything!
A report released in 2015 shows that out of every 100 tonnes of maize produced, up to 25 are lost before they reach the consumer's plate. For fresh produce, this loss can double: up to 43 per cent of fruit and 56 per cent of vegetables produced are lost.
About 80 per cent of this food loss happens during harvesting and storage. And studies across most African countries show that women provide the majority of the labour for harvesting and storage. This is where investing in women can make a difference.