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Article
Publication date: 1 February 2016

Brighton Mvumi, Learnmore Tatenda Matsikira and Jackqeline Mutambara

– The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the banana industry in Zimbabwe focusing on postharvest losses along the value chain (VC).

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the banana industry in Zimbabwe focusing on postharvest losses along the value chain (VC).

Design/methodology/approach

The study evaluated the banana industry in Zimbabwe focusing on postharvest losses along the VC.

Findings

Total postharvest losses for 2011-2012 were estimated to be 24-27 per cent of total production with a minimum economic loss of USD69,983/annum/firm, and a total loss of more than USD500,000/annum between the VCs analysed. The bulk of the losses occurred at farm level during handling and transportation. The major factors contributing to banana postharvest losses were: unreliable transport, poor communication and coordination between producers and processors; lack of or inefficient temperature management and poor sanitation.

Practical implications

The study identified production capacity, quality and branding as opportunities and challenges in the banana industry. Currently, there is a 40 per cent unmet local demand for bananas and hence there are no exports. If modern banana handling systems are employed and more research and development is carried out along the VC, postharvest losses can be reduced significantly, resulting in increased income and potential expansion of the industry.

Originality/value

This is the first known attempt to analyse the banana VC in southern Africa and quantify postharvest losses.

Details

British Food Journal, vol. 118 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0007-070X

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Article
Publication date: 28 September 2012

Rasel Mpuya Madaha

The purpose of this paper is to facilitate an understanding of influence of gender roles in drought so as to come with relevant recommendation aimed at bettering the lives of men…

286

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to facilitate an understanding of influence of gender roles in drought so as to come with relevant recommendation aimed at bettering the lives of men, women and female children.

Design/methodology/approach

Data have been collected via participant observation, interviews and collection of unpublished primary and secondary data generated by case studies conducted by the author. After which, content analysis was employed for its potentiality as a means of systematically identifying, classifying and analyzing information relevant to this study.

Findings

It is argued in this study that the survival of the community, in Central Tanzania, is questionable because effects of drought have reached intolerable levels and strategies adopted aren't that helpful. More specifically, socially assigned gender roles, position women and female children at the most disadvantageous position as the main victims of the disaster. Accordingly, gender roles have to be changed, if the effects of drought have to be mitigated and the community rescued from disappearance.

Originality/value

The research is original as data obtained cannot be easily accessed by short term researchers who have inadequate knowledge of the community and cannot observe season changes. Practitioner, social scientists and natural scientists, engineers and contractors included, can have their confidence in the findings: the findings are ready to be used.

Details

International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, vol. 3 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1759-5908

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