How to boost Africa's fruit exports

Post-harvest technology could play a huge role in increasing exports of fruit and vegetables from Africa, the continent with the lowest export volumes. According to Deirdre Holcroft, president of American-headquartered Holcroft Postharvest Consulting, this has been proved in countries such as New Zealand and Israel where technology has seen export volumes increase significantly. She said countries like Chile, New Zealand and Israel had proved to be extremely successful at the export of fresh fruit and vegetables, with volumes showing noticeable increases in recent years. And the reason, she believes, is post-harvest technology. It’s an area where Africa is lacking and needs to invest, she said. “Through post-harvest technology farmers in Africa will have a far better chance of survival in the face of global competition.” She said at times it was as simple as explaining the shelf life of products. “I recently visited Zimbabwe where I found olives being kept in fridges rather than on shelves. In a country where cold storage is very precious it makes no sense to put olives in the fridge while apples and cabbages are going off on the shelf. But when I engaged with the retailers I found that their understanding was that olives had a very low shelf life which is in fact not true.” Holcroft said improved training and education along with more research would allow the continent to start developing its own critical mass that would ultimately result in better quality products being provided that would be sought after globally. INSERT Through post-harvest technology farmers in Africa will have a far better chance of survival in the face of global competition. – Deidre Holcroft