Crossposted from the Worldwatch Institute's Nourishing the Planet.
Nourishing the Planet research intern Abisola Adekoya explains how for many farmers, an abundant harvest is only the first step toward feeding their families and earning an income. Vegetables ripening in the field—or even harvested and stored nearby—are still a long way from the market where they can be sold for a profit. In Africa, less than 50 percent of the rural population lives near a road that is accessible year round. And many of these people are farmers who depend on being able to get their harvest to market in order to earn enough money to buy seeds and supplies for the next season’s planting or to send their children to school and take care of other household necessities. In some parts of Africa, transport costs account for up to 60 percent of total market expenses. That is why organizations like Practical Action are working with farmers to develop innovative transportation mechanisms that are improving livelihoods throughout sub-Saharan Africa and around the world.
To read more about innovations that are helping farmers to get their produce to market, see: Getting to the Market, Beating the Heat to Reduce Post-Harvest Waste, It’s All About the Process, Investing in Better Food Storage, Reducing the Things They Carry, and In a World of Abundance, Food Waste is a Crime.