Title: Quantifying postharvest loss in vegetables along the supply chain in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos

Authors: Katinka Weinberger, Christian Genova II, Antonio Acedo

Addresses: World Vegetable Center, PO Box 42, Shanhua 74199, Taiwan. ' Socio-Economics Unit, World Vegetable Center, PO Box 42, Shanhua 74199, Taiwan. ' World Vegetable Center, PO Box 3938, Vientiane 01000, Lao PDR

Abstract: This study provides an overview of the postharvest loss situation of selected vegetable crops as perceived by the various supply chain actors in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. It investigates the volume and value of vegetable losses upstream along the supply chain, and identifies the main reasons and the preventive measures undertaken at each stage in the supply chain to abate postharvest losses. Loss estimates are compared by supply chain actor, country and crop. This study finds that the average loss of the selected vegetables is about 17%, and that farmers are the most vulnerable group compared to middlemen and retailers who both have more control on product prices. It recommends developing measures to contain disease problems for farmers, and improving marketing efficiency through standardisation of product quality for middlemen and retailers.

Keywords: horticultural crops; perishability; postharvest loss; vegetable supply chain; Vietnam; Cambodia; Laos; product quality; supply chain management; SCM; crop disease.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPTI.2008.021463

International Journal of Postharvest Technology and Innovation, 2008 Vol.1 No.3, pp.288 - 297

Published online: 27 Nov 2008 *

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