Losses in Agricultural Produce: Causes and Effects on Food Security

Losses in agricultural produce have significant social, economic, and environmental implications. Despite efforts to increase yields, inadequate pre-and post-harvest practices often lead to losses and threaten food security. These losses also waste crucial resources like water, soil, and energy utilized in crop production. Minimizing agricultural produce losses is more crucial and cost-effective than simply increasing production. Understanding the factors that influence losses, the locations where they occur, and the types of losses that take place is key to developing effective control strategies. Specialized research and analysis are necessary for this purpose. Raising public awareness about the causes and prevention of agricultural produce losses is crucial. The review aimed to understand losses in agricultural produce emphasize the importance of efficient management strategies and seek improved solutions to reduce losses across the supply chain. The review is anticipated to provide valuable insights into the complex nature of agricultural produce losses and their impact on food security. The review focused on the losses in agricultural produce by looking at the different types of losses, their causes, and when they occur in the production process. It also evaluated the necessary services and infrastructure to reduce these losses at various stages. Additionally, the review highlighted the social and economic benefits of minimizing agricultural losses, including enhanced food security, decreased financial losses, and the promotion of a more sustainable agricultural system.