Bechoff, Aurelie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8141-4448 (2024) Understanding and mapping local value chains for ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) ingredients. [Working Paper] (Unpublished)

PDF (NRI Report - Confidential) 50652 BECHOFF_Understanding_And_Mapping_Local_Value_Chains_For_Ready-To-Use_Therapeutic_Food_RUTF_Ingredients_(NRI REPORT - CONFIDENTIAL)_2024.pdf - Accepted Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (1MB) | Request a copy

Abstract

Building resilient value chains for nutritious crops is critical for sub-Saharan Africa and other parts of the world. Our research team followed the value chain of soybean, sorghum, maize, and partly chickpea that are used as ingredients in the formulation of local ready-to-use therapeutic food, a nutraceutical given to children who suffer from acute malnutrition. Farmers who grow these crops were interviewed as well as suppliers who aggregate and transport the crops to processors. Mixed and gender-segregated focus groups with farmers and individual interviews with suppliers were conducted in Murang’a and Machakos counties in Kenya, during our one-week field work visit. Crop seasonality and the different steps of the value chains were described. Value chains were tentatively mapped per crop. Causes of (preharvest) and postharvest losses and levels of losses were collected from the interviewees. The impact of value chain disruption was also discussed. Results showed that levels of postharvest losses were around 5% at the farmer’s level (harvest to grain sales) but the total loss from harvest to processor was around 25%. The two methods used to elicit losses from farmers (query or bean count) did not give similar levels. The impact of disruption on postharvest losses was found difficult to quantify by interviewees. Improved methodological approaches to obtain accurate data would need to be applied/developed.

Item Type:	Working Paper
Uncontrolled Keywords:	postharvest loss, local ingredients, RUTF, food systems, resilience
Subjects:	R Medicine > R Medicine (General) R Medicine > RV Botanic, Thomsonian, and eclectic medicine S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General)
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Engineering & Science Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute
Last Modified:	06 Jun 2025 10:36
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/50652

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