DODOMA, Feb. 10 -- Post-harvest losses remain one of the biggest challenges facing Tanzanias agricultural sector, with studies indicating that farmers lose up to 30–40 percent of their harvest annually due to poor drying, storage, handling, and transport systems.

Cereals such as maize and rice, key staples for food security and regional trade are particularly affected, on maize about 15.5% lost after harvest and paddy rice – about 10.7% lost due to inadequate post-harvest infrastructure and handling practices.

For smallholder farmers, these losses translate into reduced incomes, limited market opportunities, and increased vulnerability to climate shocks. Addressing post-harvest losses has therefore become...