Abstract only

Research to lower post-harvest processing costs and losses and to expand market utilization of crop commodities has important economic implications for farmers, marketing agents, and consumers. However, the public sector has not invested heavily in post- harvest research, which continues to be the domain of the private sector. The lack of success in rate of returns and difficulties encountered in assessing the impact of this kind of research has not strengthened the case for greater public sector intervention in post-harvest research, vis-a-vis plant-oriented production research. Nonetheless, demand for public-sector investment in this type of research is rapidly growing because of perceptions driven by market competition and increasing globalization. We critically review the International Potato Center's efforts in post-harvest research on potato and sweetpotato, drawing on case studies in several regions of the world. The paper also presents a general framework for examining economic impacts of post-harvest technical change. Three ways of modeling technical change in food processing are discussed: reducing unit costs of processing, reducing post-harvest crop losses, and expanding market demand for processed food products. The model is used to illustrate the effects of various types of post-harvest technical change on consumer and producer welfare. We conclude with an assessment of how post-harvest research compares with other areas of research investment in the improvement of potatoes and sweetpotatoes.

English

0310|R01CIMPU|AGRIS 0301|AL-Economics Program

Juan Carlos Mendieta

CIMMYT Publications Collection