The project aims to provide a thorough understanding of the market structures, regulations, policies, and technologies currently used in the post-harvest stages of the value chains for fruits, vegetables, and fish. This analysis will identify the challenge within the existing institutional framework, which will enable the development of new policies to overcome post-harvest and nutritional loss.
The most crucial outputs of the study will be the co-creation of storage, packaging, and cooling of innovation bundle as a solution for the reduction of huge PHL across the value chains of fruits, vegetables, and fish. Along with the co-creation of the innovation bundle, it is also imperative to investigate the economic feasibility of the bundle. The cost-effectiveness of the selected innovation bundle will be assessed in terms of costs of the technical interventions and the obtained return per unit of product. The project adopts a comprehensive approach to evaluating the cost-effectiveness of implementing the post-harvest loss (PHL) innovation bundle, which includes both the scientific and human aspects of nutrition. The research will provide data on post-harvest and nutrition loss of fruits, vegetables, and fish at producer, retail, and wholesale market. Especially the quantity of PHL and nutritional compositions like carbohydrates, protein, total fat, saturated fat, sugars, and sodium will be evaluated. Results and data from this study will support science-based decisions on the most effective methods and key actors/locations to intervene to reduce post-harvest and nutritional loss of fruits, vegetables, and fish in the formal and informal markets of Bangladesh.
The financial feasibility of the innovation bundle will be estimated given the time value of money. The possible outcome will help the SME to make decisions on capital investment. Fixed and variable costs and depreciation will be considered for cost calculation, whereas the premium price of the high-quality products, minimization of quantitative and qualitative losses, and the significantly higher price of the stored commodities due to extended storage period and improved quality will be considered during the calculation of return per unit of product. The project aims to create an app that can provide information on product details and prices. This app is expected to improve the effectiveness of the value chain by increasing its efficiency.
There will be thirty-six training programs (24 for farmers, 12 for value chain actors including SMEs) in the project. The curriculum of the training program will be tailored based on the findings from the co-creation of the innovation bundle and cost-effectiveness analysis. Thus, the project will identify and address barriers to the implementation of the most appropriate PH and nutritional loss training and education at BAU. The project will train 450 farmers and value chain actors including SMEs, and 40 officials and laboratory staff in the PHL and nutritional aspects of fruits, vegetables, and fish. The project will collaborate with DAE, and DOF in finding avenues for incorporating the research findings into PH and nutritional policy for fruits, vegetables, and fish in Bangladesh and implementing them. The project aims to enhance the capacity of stakeholders through training and awareness campaigns focused on improving post-harvest practices for perishable goods. It is expected that the project will significantly reduce post-harvest losses, leading to increased food availability, ameliorated consumption, and better nutrition for stakeholders. The project will also provide training to young people and women, empowering them to become entrepreneurs and engage in Income Generating Activities (IGA). Additionally, the project will establish an output market mechanism that will benefit all stakeholders, resulting in a favorable outcome for everyone involved.
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Prof Md. Takibur Rahman
Md. Takibur Rahaman is a professor at the Department of Accounting and Information Systems of Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Bangladesh. He received his PhD in Environmental and Resource Economics from the University of Copenhagen. He is an applied economist with deep interest in sustainable development of agribusiness sector in developing countries. His research focuses are on (i) examining economics of agricultural production (especially aquaculture, fisheries and livestock); (ii) evaluating policies and programs geared toward improving the lives of the small-scale producers of crop, fisheries and livestock in developing countries; and (iii) understanding behavior of consumers and producers of food markets. His research is funded by various national and international agencies like Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (DANIDA), The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Bangladesh Academy of Science /United States Department of Agriculture (BAS/USDA), and World Bank. He has published around 30 articles in peer reviewed indexed journals. Read more…
Samina Luthfa
Dr. Samina Luthfa is an Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Dhaka. She is an activist researcher interested in studying the environmental justice movement, political ecology, agriculture, gender, and media. With a general geographical focus on South Asia, she currently works on labour rights in the apparel industry, food safety-related Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP), gender analysis of theatre actors, and Mandi peasants; popular culture and youth preference in music, ‘extractivism’ in South Asia; slow fashion in Bangladesh and creative musings in political protests. She is a part-time Senior Research Fellow of BRAC University’s CED. Read more…
Prof Mahmud Hossain Sumon
Experienced Professor with a demonstrated history of working in the environmental services industry. Skilled in Life Sciences, Data Analysis, Lecturing, Biogeochemistry, and Soil Science. Strong education professional with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) focused in Geochemistry of Arsenic from University of Aberdeen. Currently working on biovolatilization of trace elements from soil. Read more…
Prof Dr. Md. Shaheed Reza
Dr. Md. Shaheed Reza is a Professor in the Department of Fisheries Technology at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), located in Mymensingh. He was an Adjunct Faculty at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Gazipur, Bangladesh during April-December, 2010 and Visiting Professor at Kitasato University School of Marine Biosciences, Kanagawa, Japan during 2018-2019. He obtained his Ph.D. in Aquatic Bioscience from the University of Tokyo, Japan in 2009. Prior to that, he completed his M.S. in Aquatic Bioscience and another M.S. in Fisheries Technology, both from the University of Tokyo and BAU, respectively. Since 2002, Dr. Reza has been involved in teaching Fishing and Post-Fishing Technology at BAU. His teaching responsibilities are complemented by extensive research activities, both in the field and laboratory. His research areas encompass seafood biochemistry, quality and safety, biotechnology and metagenomics. Dr. Reza has contributed to various research projects concentrating on fish drying, post-harvest fishery loss assessment and food safety issues related to microorganisms, heavy metals and pesticides. He is experienced in training of Department of Fisheries (DoF) Officials as well as fishermen, fish processors, middlemen, retailers and other value chain actors engaged in inland and coastal fisheries sector of Bangladesh. He has served as a consultant for projects funded by FAO and Katalyst, and prepared more than 12 technical reports. Additionally, he has published 69 scientific publications in national and international peer-reviewed journals, and 7 book chapters, making a significant contribution to the scientific community. Read more…
Prof Dr. Mohammed Nasir Uddin
Dr Mohammed Nasir Uddin who has been serving as Professor in the Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymenisngh, Bangladesh since 2004. Prof Uddin is 20 years experienced mainly in agricultural (crop, livestock and fisheries) extension, technology transfer and capacity development of farmers. Earlier Prof Uddin did PhD in Environmental Management at Kyoto University, Japan and MS in Agricultural Extension (BAU) and Rural Development (Belgium). Prof Uddin experienced in conducting research projects especially national and international projects while Ministry of Science of Technology and Ministry of Education, Government of Bangladesh, UNDP and FAO of UN, European Commission, UKRI-BBSRC, UK; IFPRI and Harvest Plus, USA etc. are funded. Read more…
Md. Salauddin Palash, PhD
I have more than 16 years of teaching and research experience at Bangladesh Agricultural University. I have published books, research articles and seminar proceedings on an array of agribusiness, supply and value chain issues. My research work focused on economies, marketing, value and supply chain activities of a variety of commodities, including crops, livestock and fish. I have the experience of working with USAID, FAO, ACIAR, Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF), Department of Livestock Services (DLS), Krishi Gobeshona Foundation (KGF), Bangladesh, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), etc. I did Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from the Justus-Liebig University in Giessen, Germany. I have a fluency in Bangla as a native speaker and English as a second language, has workable skills in German. My date of birth is 01.03.1980. Read more…
Prof Dr. Md. Kamrul Hasan
My research mainly focuses on postharvest biology and technology and food quality and safety. By this time, 23 students have completed their MS degree under my supervision. Presently, 12 MS and 2 PhD Students are pursuing their research under my supervision. I also worked as Principal Investigators of several research projects funded by national (UGC, MOSICT and BAURES) and International (EC, USAID and FAO) Donors. To date 35 research articles have been published in national (28) and international (8) journals. Read more…
Prof Dr. Md. Akhtaruzzaman Khan
Professor Md. Akhtaruzzaman Khan is an Agro-Economist of Bangladesh. Having PhD in Economics, his research focuses on various aspects of agricultural economics that includes fisheries and livestock economics, environmental economics, value chain and supply chain of agricultural commodities, efficiency and risk modeling at farm level, post-harvest losses, poverty and livelihood of vulnerable people etc. His research is funded by various national and international agencies like United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), World Bank (WB), International Development Association (IDA), Asian Development Bank (ADB) etc. He has published over 97 research articles, 24 monographs, one book and a book chapter. Read more…
Madan Mohan Dey
Professor Madan Dey is an agricultural economist with more than 28 years of post-Ph.D. experience in teaching, research, outreach, and governance in a variety of agricultural and natural resources contexts. He began his career in the economics of agricultural development focusing on rice. Dr. Dey completed his post-doctoral research on the agricultural economy of Asia under the mentorship of Professor Robert Evenson of Yale University from 1991 to 1993. He has worked in various academic and research organizations and has conducted research on several sub-sectors of agriculture and natural resources, including crop, livestock, and fisheries.
Professor Dey has published widely in several fields of agricultural development and policy, including 90 referred journal articles, several books, and 45 book chapters and reviewed proceedings. Over the past 25 years, he has led and implemented a number of pioneering, innovative, and inter-disciplinary agricultural projects in the U.S., Asia, and Africa.
Dr. Dey has a demonstrated record of leadership and administrative success. As a regional director of WorldFish (2004 – 2007), he provided strategic vision and direction to the Asia regional operation, and managed an annual budget of approximately $6 million and led a team of 30 specialists from various disciplines in a matrix management system. He has secured grant funding of more than $10 million during the last 20 years. Read more…
