Les pertes post-récolte dans la filière maïs entravent l’atteinte de la sécurité alimentaire et nutritionnelle, car cette céréale est la plus consommée au Bénin. La présente étude a été menée dans sept des douze départements que compte le Bénin, afin d’évaluer les pertes post-récolte que subissent les maïsiculteurs. La méthode subjective basée sur les déclarations des agriculteurs a été utilisée pour collecter des données à l’aide d’un questionnaire semi-structuré auprès de 286 producteurs. Les résultats indiquaient que les pertes intervenaient principalement lors de la récolte (0,87%), l’égrenage (0,86%), le vannage (0,85%) et le stockage (0,76%). Pour une quantité initialement produite (d’environ 4555 kg en moyenne), le taux moyen global des pertes au cours des différentes opérations considérées est de 5,78%. Les principales causes des pertes étaient : le déversement des grains et les facteurs biologiques (pourriture, moisissures et attaques des insectes). Des stratégies comme la récolte à temps, la protection des sacs de maïs avec des bâches et l’utilisation de sacs hermétiques permettaient de prévenir les pertes. Pour réduire considérablement ces pertes, des mesures et politiques d’accompagnement améliorant les capacités des acteurs, les facilités d’acquisition d’infrastructures de stockage, d’équipements/matériels de transport appropriés doivent être promues. English title: Assessment of post-harvest losses in the maize sector: Case of the production link in Benin Maize production has always faced the challenge of post-harvest losses which hamper the achievementof food and nutritional security. Hence, in order to assess these post-harvest losses in the maize sector, a study was conducted in seven of the twelve departments of Benin. Data collection was done using a semi-structured questionnaire administered to a calculated minimum sample of 286 producers of this crop. The subjective method which was based on the declarations/opinions of the farmers was used for the data analysis. The results indicated that the losses mainly occur at the harvest level (0.87%), ginning (0.86%), winnowing/cleaning (0.85%), and storage (0.76%). For an initially produced quantity (about 4555 kg), the overall average rate of losses along the various operations considered is 5.78%. The main causes of these losses are grain spillage and biological factors (rot, mould, insect attacks). Strategies such as harvesting on time, protecting sacks of maize with tarps, and the use of sacks that are not torn and in good condition help prevent losses. To considerably reduce these losses, accompanying measures and policies improving the capacities of the actors, the facilities for the acquisition of storage infrastructures, and appropriate transport equipment/materials must be promoted.

The aim of this study was to provide information on post-harvest losses (PHLs) along the main value-added chains in the soybean industry, and on farmers’ strategies for reducing these losses in Benin. Data were collected using a subjective method (questionnaires) from 152 direct actors in the soybean value chain and an objective method (technological monitoring using technological monitoring sheets) from 27 processing units using a two-stage sampling technique in eighteen of the country’s municipalities. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results revealed that post-harvest losses in soybean value chains ranged from 0.03% to 7.98%. The highest loss percentages were 7.98% (production), 10.0% (processing), and 4.27% (marketing), and were obtained during the subjective measurements. The link most affected by PHL was the production link. These losses were mainly observed during threshing, winnowing, sorting, and harvesting operations. The main causes of these losses were poor mechanization and a lack of skills for post-harvest operations. The main strategies developed by players to cope with this situation remained traditional (timely harvesting, use of appropriate equipment, and good storage practices). However, additional efforts in terms of infrastructure, adapted subsidies/credits, and recruitment of specialists are needed to mechanize the operations most sensitive to losses and to reinforce the capacities of agricultural actors in order to considerably reduce post-harvest losses.