How Effective Are our Postharvest Facilities?

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Losses from postharvest are one of the most common problems in agriculture. This Policy Note summarizes the key findings of an evaluation of postharvest facilities (PHFs) in the Philippines. The study looked into the effectiveness of PHFs to generate the needed evidence if these are worthy of further investments and to have a basis in upgrading value chains and improving the economic outcomes for small farmers. Overall, the PHFs assessed were found to have a positive impact in addressing postharvest losses and improving the marketing system for rice and high-value crops. They helped increase farmers` income through the production of good-quality milled rice and the reduction of postharvest losses. However, more benefits can be realized if capital for paddy procurement can be increased and if issues related to the PHFs` management, operation, viability, and sustainability can be addressed.