Agriculture plays an important role in Zimbabwe where about 70 percent of the population is dependent on farming for their livelihood.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation estimates that one third of the food produced globally for human consumption is lost along the supply chain meaning that in Africa alone 1.3 billion metric tonnes of food do not reach the consumer giving a negative impact on food security, nutrition and economic stability.

A World Bank Study in 2011 estimated the value of African grain losses alone at USD$4 billion.

These post-harvest losses on harvested grain are attributed to lack of appropriate storage facilities, a situation forcing farmers to sell most of their grain soon after harvesting at very low prices, leaving them poor and vulnerable.

As most farmers in Zimbabwe are now harvesting their maize the losses can be qualitative or quantitative. Quantitative losses are easy to determine and report since they constitute a physical reduction in the marketable volume and can be easily measured.

Qualitative and quantitative losses are driven by poor or wrong harvest practices and poor handling. These include poor storage or packaging, mode of transport, processing practices, lack or poor access to markets and poor coordination among the actors in the supply chains.

There are other broader factors such as poor infrastructure and lack of policies that have a direct impact on post-harvest issues.

Some possible interventions and technologies have been put in place and farmers are advised to acquire proper grain drying equipment.

Most used options in Zimbabwe are drums , granaries ,silos and bags which can reduces losses if used properly.