Post-harvest losses refer to food losses that occur between harvest and consumption, i.e. before the product reaches consumers. The objective of this study was to establish a diagnostic and evaluative situation of the three sectors tomato, potato and cabbage, in terms of post-harvest losses (PHL) at the various levels of the value chain in high production areas in Niger. On one hand, 12 groups of around 60 members each were interviewed in focus groups separately, and 120 producers (10 producers per group and by product) were investigated on the other hand. The study identified the different types of PHL, the extent of these losses, the main factors behind these losses, their impact on the producer’s income and their consequences on the food and nutritional security of households. It also made it possible to identify the strategies adopted by producers to cope with these significant losses. The results of this study showed that most of the PHL are caused by physical, microbiological and physiological factors, except for potatoes where the bad faith of wholesalers devaluating an important quantity of the product, remains the main constraint causing enormous qualitative losses to producers (about 35 %). The study filled a gap in the field of post-harvest food losses, particularly in the case of market gardening. The professionalization of actors in pre-harvest techniques and their support with small processing and/or preservation equipment’s remain an alternative.

The Sclerocarya birrea or Marula tree is a multipurpose forest species widespread in Africa and little studied in Niger. This study focused on the processing of its fruits in order to better contribute to its technological valorization. The samples were collected in two regions followed by their processing by extraction juice from pulp and oil from kernel before their physicochemical and biochemical characterization. The results showed that the Brix degree, the pH and the titratable acidity of the juice varied respectively from 8.40 ± 0.36 to 11.80 ± 0.20 °B; 2.55 ± 0.73 to 2.67 ± 0.66 and 7.77 ± 0.25 to 18.92 ± 0.52%. The quality parameters of oil showed that the acidity index varied from 7.4 ± 0.01 to 18.71 ± 0.01 KOH/g; the saponification index from 275.34 ± 0.02 to 298.03 ± 0.01 mgKOH/g; the iodine index from 7.23 ± 0.02 to 22.96 ± 0.01 I2/100g and the peroxide index from 0.16 ± 0.01 to 9.2 ± 0.00 meq O2 /kg. The fatty acid profile showed a richness in saturated, mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids with essential oils 3, 6, 7 and 9. The fruits of S. birrea thus demonstrate a great potential and a very rich and exploitable composition for several purposes and can be an alternative in contributing to the food and nutritional security of rural households.

Food losses occur at different stages of the food system. They are particularly observed during harvesting operations, during packaging and/or storage, transport and preliminary processing operations. This study was intended to make a diagnosis of the three sub-sectors (tomato, potato and cabbage), in terms of post-harvest losses (PHL) in order to assess the impact of these losses on the producer’s income and their impact on household food and nutrition security. Eight hundred and forty actors (producers, transporters, traders, processors) were involved in this study. Individual interviews, focus groups and weighings made it possible to collect the data. The results allowed to categorize the different types of PHL and determine their impact on the resilience of producers in facing household food and nutritional insecurity. The study also made it possible to identify the strategies adopted by producers to cope with these significant losses. These adaptation strategies depend on the stages of the supply chain. From the use of seeds adapted to the use of good cultural practices in the pre-harvest phase, the use of skilled labor for harvesting and good conservation practices, producers adapt with suitable provisions for transport of the goods and the search for a safe outlet. PHLs constitute a real risk for farmers, preventing them of fully benefiting from their work, while remaining an obstacle to the food and nutritional security of farmers and their households.