In Ukraine, the agricultural sector is experiencing a 40% loss in harvested fruits and vegetables, the highest in Europe, primarily due to inadequate storage infrastructure. This significant wastage is attributed to the absence of storage facilities equipped to maintain the quality of fresh produce post-harvest. According to AgroPolit.com, referencing the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, enhancing the fruit and vegetable sector's infrastructure could catalyze economic resurgence and rural development.
The challenges confronting the Ukrainian fruit and vegetable market include a lower degree of mechanization relative to EU standards, insufficient storage solutions, and a lack of the necessary export certifications for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Furthermore, these entities face restricted market access, limiting their ability to penetrate more lucrative trading environments.
Addressing the issue of post-harvest losses, the introduction and promotion of cold chain logistics are identified as a viable solution. This approach could significantly reduce wastage by improving storage conditions. Moreover, the sector is hampered by the limited market access for SMEs, which often do not possess the required certifications for exporting their products to the EU. This situation is compounded by a lack of connections with diverse marketing channels, which restricts their ability to move beyond local markets and engage with larger trading networks.
Source: 112.au