Southern African Delegation Explores Post-Harvest Loss Reduction Solutions in China

October 19, 2023 WFP China COE

SSC Engagement; Policy Support; Southern Africa; South-South Cooperation; China-Africa Cooperation; Post-Harvest Loss Reduction;

From September 22 to 28, 2023, a delegation consisting of eight representatives from Southern African nations studied China's measures to combat post-harvest losses, backed by the WFP China Office and the WFP Regional Bureau for Southern Africa (RBJ). The delegation included members from Botswana's Ministry of Entrepreneurship, the Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board,the Ministry of Strategic Reserves of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar's Anosy Region Department of Agriculture and Livestock, the Zambian Food Reserve Agency, and WFP RBJ.

During their Beijing visit, the delegation met with China's National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration (NAFRA) and toured the Daxing Base of the Academy under NAFRA. They also journeyed to Kaifeng, Henan Province, to attend the International Seminar on Post-Harvest Loss Management, engage with experts from Henan University of Technology (HAUT), and tour the Kaifeng Grain Industry Group. In Kaifeng, their talks revolved around reducing post-harvest losses, touching upon aspects like harvesting, processing, storing, transporting, and supply chain management.

HAUT experts shared China's strategies for post-harvest loss mitigation, providing an overarching view of the nation's R&D landscape and diving into specifics like pest control and intelligent management systems.

The Southern African delegation attends the International Seminar on Post-Harvest Loss Management.

On September 25, the delegation joined the aforementioned seminar. Through presentations, debates, and speeches, global experts dialogued with Chinese governmental, academic, and industry representatives about managing post-harvest losses, encompassing areas like harvesting, processing, storage, transportation, and supply chain management.

The Southern African delegation visits Kaifeng Grain Industry Group.

While visiting Kaifeng Grain Industry Group, the delegation engaged in discussions about grain storage practices in Henan, touching on subjects like scale, processes, costs, and operational strategies.

Moreover, during their time at the Daxing Base of the Academy under NAFRA, Chief Engineer Sun Hui and his research squad presented an overview of the facility, showcasing the endeavors of various labs. The delegation lauded the academy's R&D prowess and expressed their eagerness to bolster collaboration and exchanges with China in related domains.

The Southern African delegation in dialogue with China's National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration.

While at NAFRA, the delegation held discussions with Lu Jingbo, NAFRA's Deputy Director-General. Their conversation centered around fortifying the memorandum of understanding between WFP and NAFRA to enhance South-South cooperation, aiming to foster tangible collaboration between China and Southern African countries in post-harvest management and technology.