AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES VALUE ADDITION AND AGRO-PROCESSING
Smallholder farmers in Africa and agricultural enterprises continue to face challenges growing their businesses and improving the quality of agricultural commodities. The actors suffer inordinate post-harvest losses due to low-value addition and inadequate cold chain. Value addition in agriculture commodities spans a wide spectrum – packaging, processing, cooling, drying, extracting and other processes that differentiate the original commodity from its final form can generate higher returns and help gain access to high-value markets. It can help create brand identity, extend production lines, reduce post-harvest losses, increase shelf-life, improve profit margins and generate employment opportunities across the value chain. How can value chain actors identify and take advantage of value addition opportunities?