EAGC Grain Business Institute (GBI) kicked off a two-day Training of Trainers (ToT) on Post-Harvest Handling and Management in Bahir Dar, Amhara Region, Ethiopia, bringing together over 25 participants from IDH-supported SMEs under the Growing Together programme: Phibela PLC, Quarit Agro-Industry, Admas Union and Merkeb Union.
The training comes at an important point in Ethiopia’s agricultural calendar, as the country moves through the Meher production and harvesting season. In Amhara and other major grain-producing areas, weather conditions during the season have affected the timing of planting and harvesting, making careful post-harvest handling particularly important in protecting grain from moisture, contamination, pests and quality deterioration.
Post-harvest losses remain a significant challenge for Ethiopia’s food and agricultural system. Ethiopia’s Post-Harvest Management Strategy notes that losses across grain and horticultural value chains can be substantial, while the Government has identified improved infrastructure, standardized warehouses, better storage systems and capacity building as key interventions for reducing these losses.
Against this backdrop, the ToT is equipping SME teams with practical knowledge and skills to strengthen how grain is handled, dried, cleaned, graded, stored and managed after harvest, helping ensure that more of what is produced reaches the market in good condition and meets quality requirements.
The first training is now being followed by a second day training on Warehouse Operations and Management, which begins today. These training sessions are designed to strengthen the capacity of participating SMEs to manage grain more effectively, improve storage practices, reduce avoidable losses and ultimately contribute to more efficient, resilient and market-ready grain value chains in Ethiopia.
