Postharvest impact/outcome assessment: adoption of improved harvest and postharvest practices and lessons learned in the cold chain Bangladesh alliance (CCBA) project

The Cold Chain Bangladesh Alliance (CCBA) aims to increase the availability, access, and use of domestically‐produced and nutritious foods in an effort to sustainably reduce poverty and hunger. 

An assessment team visited Bangladesh during May 15‐June 3, 2016 to review and evaluate the CCBA postharvest training program that focused on setting up collection centers for different vegetable crops, training farmers on best practices, and providing marketing links and advice on improved marketing. This report described the methodology, findings and lessons learned, and documented harvest/postharvest practices, CCBA training activities on improved practices, their adoption and outcomesregarding physical losses, quality and market prices, and impact on food availability and potential earnings. Lessons learned from the assessment included: having a gathering place for the farming community at CCBA collection centers provided a simple and low cost way to reach target audiences on a regular basis; costs and benefits of individual improved practices for harvesting and postharvest handling had a large impact on adoption; the management of collection centers needed to be better understood.