Supply chain
Post-harvest losses in Pakistan: why so much produce never reaches the plate
Post-harvest losses of fruit and vegetables in Pakistan are commonly estimated at 20% to 40%, according to the Pakistan Economic Survey 2025-26. Causes include manual and improper handling, weak grading and packing, limited cold storage, poor farm-to-market roads and slow transport. Better handling, packing and shorter, tracked journeys reduce the losses.
How big is the problem
Post-harvest loss is produce that is grown but never eaten, because it spoils, is damaged or is rejected somewhere between the field and the buyer. The Pakistan Economic Survey 2025-26, as reported by FreshPlaza, estimates post-harvest losses of fruit and vegetable crops at 20% to 40%. Earlier research cited by Geo News put the figure at about 35% to 40%. The range is wide because losses depend on the crop, the season, the region and how each study measured them.
Crop-level figures are easier to pin down. A report by the Asian Development Bank, covered by ProPakistani in 2022, found losses of about 25% for apples, 20% for potatoes and 15% for chillies.
| Crop or group | Estimated loss | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fruit and vegetables (overall) | 20% to 40% | Pakistan Economic Survey 2025-26, via FreshPlaza |
| Apples | About 25% | ADB, via ProPakistani |
| Potatoes | About 20% | ADB, via ProPakistani |
| Chillies | About 15% | ADB, via ProPakistani |
Why the losses happen
The ADB attributed losses mainly to manual and improper post-harvest management and named several farm-level causes:
- Poor harvesting and packing practices that bruise or crush produce.
- Inadequate grading, so damaged items travel with sound ones.
- Limited cold storage, and unreliable electricity that undermines the cold storage that exists.
- Poor, narrow roads linking farms to urban markets.
- Inefficient transport, including long waits and multiple handoffs.
- A lack of good-quality packaging, such as corrugated boxes.
What helps
No single fix removes the problem, but the same measures recur across the evidence:
- Better handling and packing at the farm, using crates and boxes rather than bulk piling.
- Grading at the source, so damaged produce is sold or used separately.
- Shorter chains. Fewer handoffs mean less time and less rough handling.
- Cold chain access, especially for perishable fruit and leafy vegetables.
- Data on where time is lost. If delivery steps are recorded, slow steps become visible.
Where Farm2Fork fits
Farm2Fork cannot build cold storage or roads. What it can do is shorten the chain by letting a farmer sell straight to a named buyer, record collection, transit and delivery so slow steps are visible, and give each listing a quality grade. Whether that reduces losses is something a pilot has to demonstrate, not assume. See traceability for what is recorded.
Common questions
How much food does Pakistan lose after harvest?
Estimates for fruit and vegetables range from about 20% to 40%, according to the Pakistan Economic Survey 2025-26. Individual crops and studies differ, so treat the figure as a range rather than an exact number.
What is the main cause of post-harvest loss?
No single cause dominates. The ADB points to manual and improper post-harvest practices, inadequate grading and packing, limited cold storage, and poor roads and transport together.
Sources
See how Farm2Fork puts this into practice
Direct orders from named farms, delivery quotes up front, and a QR journey for every order.