An assessment of rice postharvest systems: postharvest losses

Abstract

This study is a component of the project "improving the competitiveness and marketability of locally produced rice in Ghana vis-a-vis imports of the commodity into the country" implemented by the NRI in co-operation with some Ghanaian research institutions. The study assessed physical and qualitative losses in the post-production system of rice, especially during harvesting, threshing, drying and storage, focusing on the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions. The study involved informal interviews of individual farmers, farmer groups and women involved in parboiling using a semi-structured questionnaire and direct observation of harvesting, threshing, cleaning, drying, storage and parboiling. The study showed that qualitative losses were more important than quantitative losses. Important qualitative losses occurred during threshing, drying and parboiling. It is concluded that reducing the qualitative losses that occur during threshing, drying and parboiling will make locally produced rice more competitive vis-a-vis imported rice