Postharvest Loss to Postharvest Win: Guyana Farmer-to-Farmer

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Mr. Rodriguez on-location in Guyana at CV Farms with
 Kinaka Craig & F Valentine

Mauricio G. Rodriguez, a U.S.-based private consultant, recently volunteered in Guyana as a Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) Volunteer with Partners of the Americas. His F2F assignment focused on assisting local small-scale produce farmers through postharvest management training.

In Guyana, Mr. Rodriguez met with vegetable and herb producers who were experiencing significant crop and financial losses in postharvest transportation of their crops when shipping to Georgetown supermarkets. Noting the producers utilize hydroponic technology and organic soil mixes throughout the growth of the produce, he was then able to evaluate potential issues at the point of postharvest. After preliminary visits to different Georgetown supermarkets, he discovered the problem.

From the point of harvest and to the supermarket, the crops were exposed to varying storage and outside temperatures. The producers were experiencing crop and produce spoiling in transit because they were not providing consistent storage temperatures and in some cases not using temperature-friendly packaging for marketing and transporting their produce. Some producers were using domestic house refrigerators to store their "physically warm" produce in plastic bags and containers with no openings or holes. Because of the trapped warm air in the storage package reacting to much cooler outer environment and restriction of airflow, the adjustment of the outdoor temperature to the produce on transport effectively sped up the decaying process of the produce.

Mr. Rodriguez provided education and training to the producers and extension professionals from the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI). Through audiovisual, powerpoint, and discussion-style presentations, he was able to impart practical and sustainable techniques for the nearly 50 male and female farmers and extension leaders attending. Mr. Rodriguez imparted the importance of harvesting the produce early in the day and using basic elements like shade, damp rugs or burlap to cool the produce after harvest. He also discussed the use of alternate energy (solar) as well as low-cost options for precooling and cooling of produce.

Mr. Rodriguez presenting postharvest training at
the National Agricultural Reseach and Extension
 Institute in Guyana
Shadehouse growing structure with lettuce being
grown using hydroponic technology











"It was evident that young professionals have the potential to improve their knowledge through additional training in postharvest."

Mr. Rodriguez advised the Partners of the Americas F2F professionals on developing a postharvest database within the Guyana F2F Field Office and ways to disseminate postharvest knowledge among current and future producers. Additionally, he provided guidance to the Guyana Farmer-to-Farmer program in integrating postharvest management with the University of Guyana academic curriculum for future producers.

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