The WFP Centre of Excellence for Rural Transformation (WFP China COE) and the WFP Climate and Resilience Service (PPGR), with support from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China (MARA), jointly organized a three-part webinar series on Grain Post-Harvest Handling for Smallholders, held on June 26, July 3, and July 10, 2025.
Smallholder farmers are central to agricultural production in many developing countries but suffer disproportionately from post-harvest losses (PHL), a major driver of global food insecurity. Key factors behind these losses include inadequate drying, poor storage, and limited market access.
Recognizing the impact of PHL, WFP and its partners promote locally adapted solutions to reduce post-harvest losses and enhance food system resilience. In China, integrated efforts combining policy support, technological innovation, and infrastructure investment have successfully reduced smallholder grain losses from 8% to below 2% and boosted incomes by 15–20% in pilot areas. Meanwhile, other developing countries are adopting market-based approaches, such as mobile post-harvest services and pay-per-use cold storage, driven largely by private sector innovation. These experiences provide practical pathways for reducing PHL and improving resilience across diverse contexts.
This webinar series aims to promote the exchange of adaptable technologies, equipment, and business models that enhance smallholders' capacity to reduce grain post-harvest losses. It also serves as a platform for developing countries and technical stakeholders to share technical solutions and facilitate further cooperation.
Across three sessions, eight expert speakers from China and Africa shared practical experiences and insights on post-harvest grain handling for smallholders. You can access the three webinar sessions in English, French, and Spanish via the links provided in the table below.
| Session | Topic | Speaker | Link to the Cloud School |
|---|---|---|---|
Smart Grain Drying Solutions for Smallholders | Grain Drying Service Centre for Smallholders in China | Dr. Zhu Guangfei (Academy of Agricultural Planning and Engineering, MARA) | English: http://cloudschool.wfpchinacoe.net/course.html?id=271 French: http://cloudschool.wfpchinacoe.net/course.html?id=273 Spanish: |
Business Models for Smallholder Grain Drying Services | Mr. Isaac Sesi (Sesi Technologies, Ghana) | ||
Smallholder Grain Storage – From China to Africa | Smallholder Grain Storage for Main Grains in China | Prof. Yan Xiaoping (SINOGRAIN Chengdu Storage Research Institute, China) | English: http://cloudschool.wfpchinacoe.net/course.html?id=274 French: http://cloudschool.wfpchinacoe.net/course.html?id=278 Spanish: |
South-South Cooperation Solution: Rice Value Chain Project in West Africa | Ms. Feng Yan (WFP China COE) | ||
Small Steel Silos Application in Africa: Experiences and Lessons Learnt from Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea | Mr. Pierre Tahe (Regional Centre of Excellence against Hunger and Malnutrition, Côte d'Ivoire) | ||
Unlocking Grain Market Access for Smallholders | Smallholder Market Access & Post-harvest Loss Reduction in Africa | Mr. Cephas Taruvinga (PHM Specialist, Zimbabwe) | English: http://cloudschool.wfpchinacoe.net/course.html?id=275 French: http://cloudschool.wfpchinacoe.net/course.html?id=279 Spanish: |
Local Rice Supply Chains for Smallholders: Maruo Farm Case Study | Engr. Musa Darboe (Maruo Farms, Gambia) | ||
On-farm Primary Grain Processing in China | Ms. Shi Jianfang (Academy of Agricultural Planning and Engineering, MARA) |
For more information on China's practices in post-harvest loss reduction, you may refer to the following resources: a comprehensive series of Cloud School Courses and three reports authored by experts from the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administrationof China.
· Comprehensive Cloud School Courses on China's Practices on Post-harvest Loss Reduction
· Grain Pests Identification and Control Techniques: Technical Needs for Grain Pest Control
· Development of China's Grain Conservation and Loss Reduction Standards System
· Post-Harvest Grain Drying Technologies
