Climate-resilient Post-harvest and Agribusiness Support Project (PASP)

PASP aims to increase the incomes of smallholders and rural labourers by supporting climate-smart post-harvest and agribusiness investments. Crucial to the achievement of this objective is the reduction of the post-harvest losses that affect the country’s major food crops, specifically maize and beans, Irish potato, cassava and milk, as well as horticulture. Impacts have been profound, with latest figures indicating that: -202 business plans have been approved. The majority of approved business plans funded the construction and rehabilitation of warehouses for the collection and storage of crops. Many business plans also focused on the acquisition of transport equipment (particularly trucks and motorcycles), but also on processing and post-harvest handling. -Around 14,000 cooperative members were trained in improved post-harvest handling and storage practices for maize, beans, cassava and Irish potato. -PASP piloted and tested a range of locally available biopesticides to counter the unsafe use of chemicals in household storage practices. Although the project hasn't concluded yet, the following results are expected: -44,000 smallholder households have gained access to new climate-smart post-harvest technologies through PASP. -A 20 per cent reduction in the level of post-harvest losses over the baseline is expected by project completion. -Improved food security by reducing the prevalence of child malnutrition by 5 percentage points among beneficiary households. -Average income increase of at least 10 per cent for project beneficiaries in the targeted value chains. Next steps include monitoring business plans.