Foodstuffs in a Kampala Market/Courtesy photoResearchers have identified significant food loss and wastage in Kampala’s fresh food markets, which they say could be reduced through the enforcement of simple quality controls by city authorities.A survey conducted by the African Cities Research Consortium (ACRC) at Makerere University, in collaboration with the NGO Center for Health and Social Economic Improvement (CHASE-i), covered Nakawa and 24 private markets within Kalerwe.The study found that vendors were unknowingly losing up to ten percent of their daily purchases to waste. Dorcus Kabahenda Maloba, Executive Director of CHASE-i and lead of the research project, explained that the study involved 100 vendors in each market, focusing on tubers such as Irish and sweet potatoes, as well as fruits and vegetables.“We did a comprehensive assessment of the losses along the supply chain and found vendors not only losing up to ten percent of their total daily purchases but also unaware of value addition options that could save them from such losses,” Kabahenda said.The team also studied communities to understand why food wastage remains high despite persistent hunger in areas where produce is grown and sold. Kabahenda identified gaps in food sorting and storage as key challenges.Speaking at a results validation meeting, Dr. Iddi Ramathani, Senior Researcher at NARO’s Horticulture and Oil Palm Programme, attributed the problem to limited awareness. He noted that while guidelines exist for growing and harvesting, farmers are often misled by vendors and brokers regarding best practices, including pesticide use.“They don’t follow the recommended spraying schedule and apply too much pesticide at the packaging level, believing it will make the produce last longer,” he explained. Dr. Ramathani added that market structures are often unsuitable for storing perishable produce, resulting in further losses, despite innovations available to extend shelf life.Ketra Nakayenga, Principal Officer in charge of Quality Assurance and Standardization at the Ministry of Trade, acknowledged gaps in the enforcement of quality standards in local markets. “Market authorities are supposed to ensure produce comes in proper condition, but it continues arriving unsorted and with excessive pesticide residues,” Nakayenga said.Although Uganda lacks precise data on domestic food loss, Nakayenga noted that globally, one-third of food produced is lost, resulting in an estimated $940 billion economic loss. She highlighted government efforts, such as refrigerated common-use facilities at border markets like Bunagana and Mpondwe, which could reduce losses if properly utilized.Idris Lubega, Community Knowledge Lead at ACRC, emphasized lax enforcement in local markets.“If market authorities put in place controls rejecting produce that does not meet a standard, farmers will be more cautious. Applying standards similar to export produce would significantly reduce food loss and wastage,” he said.-URNThe post High Levels of Food Loss in Kampala Markets Linked to Poor Quality Controls- Survey appeared first on Business Focus.