Post-harvest losses are a shared challenge of the Global South. How can India's agricultural research ecosystem contribute to food security in Africa?

In the Global South, much food is lost after it is grown: in storage, transport and processing. In Ghana, root-crop losses have been estimated at 15–30% [4]. India also loses about 4.87–11.61% of its vegetables each year [3]. The ICAR–CSIR-CRI (Ghana) MoU of October 2026 [1] shows how India's research network can tackle this shared problem.

Shared nature of the challenge

• Smallholder-dominated, perishable crops such as tomato, cassava and yam spoil quickly.
• Weak cold chains and little processing: India's losses come mostly from poor harvesting, handling, storage and transport [3]. The same steps fail in Africa.

How India's research ecosystem can contribute

• Crop improvement: ICAR can share high-yielding tomato lines, germplasm and breeding material [1]. It should include lines suited to processing, not only to the fresh market.
• Post-harvest technology: The MoU covers cold storage, refrigerated transport, sorting, grading and cassava–yam value addition [1].
• Loss measurement: India has measured losses at scale. The NABCONS study covered 54 crops [3]. Applying the same method in Africa would give a baseline figure to judge progress against.
• Research-to-market link: Arima Farms Ltd. is the MoU's commercial partner [1]. This goes beyond aid between governments.
• Training: ITEC trained 164 Ghanaian civilians in 2024 [2]. Some places can be reserved for cold-chain operators and food processors.
• Continuity: The work builds on the 2013–17 NRDC–CSIR Tomato Pilot [2].

Limits to factor in

• India has only half-solved the problem at home. Its own vegetable losses remain high [3].
• Bilateral bodies often fail to meet. The India–Ghana Joint Commission has never met [2]. The MoU's Joint Working Group could fall into the same pattern.
• No results from the 2013–17 pilot are on record [2].

Way forward

• Record a baseline loss figure before the work begins and publish the results at the end.
• Bring in ICAR-CIPHET, ICAR's post-harvest institute, alongside the crop breeders.
• Learn from India's Operation Greens scheme for tomato, onion and potato, and pair technology with finance for processing.

India's research network offers Africa tested crop varieties, post-harvest know-how and a habit of measuring losses. Its value will depend on measured results, not on signed MoUs. Applied this way, South-South research cooperation can advance SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 12.3 (halving food loss) and turn India–Africa partnership into food security.