The Status of Food Storage, Transport and Logistics Infrastructure in Africa: Experiences from Uganda, Kenya and Ghana

This briefing by the African Food Systems Transformation Collective examines the critical state of food storage, transport, and logistics infrastructure in Uganda, Kenya, and Ghana. It argues that underdeveloped infrastructure leads to high post-harvest losses and food insecurity, which are further exacerbated by climate change. The document proposes agroecological transitions—integrating sustainable storage, intermediate transport, and community-led logistics—to enhance food security and economic resilience for smallholder farmers.

• Underdeveloped food storage and logistics infrastructure in Africa result in significant post-harvest losses, which can reach 30–40% for perishable goods in Kenya, Uganda, and Ghana.
• In Uganda, traditional storage methods like granaries and baskets are inefficient, leading to losses of 17.6% for cereals and up to 40% for fruits and vegetables. Additionally, high aflatoxin levels in maize, sorghum, and groundnuts have hindered regional trade, exemplified by a 2021 Kenyan ban on Ugandan maize that caused exports to drop from 94,382 MT in early 2021 to 2,765 MT by the end of 2012.
• Kenya's food systems suffer from a severe lack of storage for perishables and an uneven transportation network where poor rural roads increase costs and delays. The document notes that 30–40% of perishable foods are lost due to factors including insufficient cold-chain facilities and poor handling.
• Ghana's food storage systems are skewed toward national-level grain and nut enhancement, neglecting household storage for perishables. Poor rural road and vehicle conditions contribute to food losses exceeding 20%.
• The Warehouse Receipt System (WRS), implemented in the three countries, aims to stabilize prices and improve credit access by allowing farmers to store produce in certified warehouses. However, its adoption is limited by insufficient certified facilities, logistical constraints, and low awareness.
• Agroecological transitions can be supported through 'intermediate transport' (such as motorbikes, 'tuk-tuks', and bicycle taxis) and renewable energy solutions like solar-powered cold storage to reduce emissions and spoilage.
• Philanthropic initiatives are targeting these gaps, including the ARCH Cold Chain Solutions Fund (energy-efficient cold-chain storage in Kenya and East Africa), the UNEP and WeTu Initiative (off-grid solar cold-storage in Kenya), and AkoFresh in Ghana (solar-powered refrigerated storage extending shelf life from 5 to 21 days).

APA

Onyango, G. M., Bitariho, R., & Kandawini, N. (2025). The Status of Food Storage, Transport and Logistics Infrastructure in Africa: Experiences from Uganda, Kenya and Ghana. African Climate Foundation. https://africanclimatefoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/801023_F-Food-storage-transport-and-trade_WEB-1.pdf

Chicago

Onyango, George Mark, Robert Bitariho, and Naomi Kandawini. The Status of Food Storage, Transport and Logistics Infrastructure in Africa: Experiences from Uganda, Kenya and Ghana. African Climate Foundation, 2025. https://africanclimatefoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/801023_F-Food-storage-transport-and-trade_WEB-1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Onyango |first1=George Mark |last2=Bitariho |first2=Robert |last3=Kandawini |first3=Naomi |title=The Status of Food Storage, Transport and Logistics Infrastructure in Africa: Experiences from Uganda, Kenya and Ghana |publisher=African Climate Foundation |date=2025 |url=https://africanclimatefoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/801023_F-Food-storage-transport-and-trade_WEB-1.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{onyango2025status, author = {Onyango, George Mark and Bitariho, Robert and Kandawini, Naomi}, title = {{The Status of Food Storage, Transport and Logistics Infrastructure in Africa: Experiences from Uganda, Kenya and Ghana}}, institution = {African Climate Foundation}, year = {2025}, url = {https://africanclimatefoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/801023_F-Food-storage-transport-and-trade_WEB-1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }