Affordable and clean technology for extending the shelf life of fruits and vegetables in developing counties. Smallholder farmers are the backbone of the economy in developing countries, of which woman carry more than their share. Their success or failure means the difference between eating and NOT eating for over 870 million people who are food insecure around the world.
Smallholder farmers face an unsustainably high percentage of losses each and every year. According to the FAO, 45% of fruits and vegetables in developing countries never reach the consumer. That’s 45% less food in markets, on tables and in mouths. This postharvest loss is a result of smallholder farmers lacking adequate protection for their produce from the climate, pests and diseases. Nearly half of their investment of time and resources is needlessly wasted, resulting in higher prices for the entire population.
“Improving the productivity, profitability, and sustainability of smallholder farming is the main pathway out of poverty in using agriculture for development.” Kofi Annan
Reducing post-harvest losses is the most effective and sustainable solution to hunger and food insecurity. Wakati is a simple and innovative solution that alters the climate of fruit and vegetable storage spaces to increase shelf life and reduce post-harvest losses by over 20 percent. The climate control approach used by Wakati is a affordable and clean-technology. This life changing alternative increase the income by providing better quality and more crops by lowering the losses while the extended shelf live provides more time for growing crops, getting them on the marketplace and a better bargaining position to the local wholesalers.