Agriculture & Environmental Sciences
Post-Harvest Technology
Post-Harvest Technology teaches you how to reduce the huge losses that happen after crops are harvested but before they reach consumers -- through better storage, processing, and handling. It's a genuinely high-impact field, since a significant share of Ghana's farm produce is lost after harvest due to poor storage and handling.
Program objectives
- 01Understand the causes of post-harvest losses in crops and produce.
- 02Learn storage, preservation, and handling techniques to reduce spoilage.
- 03Build skills in food processing technology as applied to post-harvest management.
- 04Get grounding in supply chain considerations from farm to market.
Why choose this program
Addresses a genuinely huge, underappreciated problem
A significant portion of Ghana's agricultural produce is lost after harvest, making this field directly impactful for food security and farmer income.
A specialized, high-value skillset
Fewer graduates specialize specifically in post-harvest management, giving you distinctive expertise that's genuinely needed.
Real business and consulting potential
Understanding storage and preservation technology can support consulting work or your own agribusiness venture focused on reducing waste.
Skills you'll build
- Storage and preservation techniques
- Post-harvest handling and processing technology
- Quality control for stored produce
- Supply chain and logistics considerations for agricultural products
- Analytical thinking
- Problem-solving
- Attention to detail
- Communication with farmers and agribusiness stakeholders
Tools & software
- Storage and preservation equipment
- Post-harvest quality testing tools
Challenges to expect
Academic
- Combines agricultural science, food technology, and logistics content, a genuinely broad mix.
Tips from the field
- Get real exposure to storage facilities and post-harvest processing operations during your studies, since seeing actual losses in action makes the coursework far more meaningful.
- Consider how post-harvest technology connects to food security and farmer income -- understanding the bigger picture helps you see where your skills matter most.
- Look into opportunities with agricultural research institutes or agribusiness companies focused on storage and processing solutions.
Career paths
- Post-harvest technologist
- Agricultural storage/processing consultant
- Food loss reduction specialist
- Agribusiness quality control officer
- Agricultural research scientist (post-harvest focus)
Where you can study this
| Name | Latest cutoff | Tuition (annual) |
|---|---|---|
| University of Cape CoastBSc | 20(2025) | — |
FAQs
Is this the same as Food Manufacturing Technology?+
They're related but different in focus. Post-Harvest Technology specifically addresses reducing losses right after harvest through storage and handling, while Food Manufacturing Technology covers the broader process of turning raw food into manufactured products.
Why does post-harvest loss matter so much in Ghana?+
A significant share of Ghana's agricultural produce is lost between harvest and market due to poor storage, handling, and processing, directly affecting both food security and farmer income.
Can I start my own business in this field?+
Yes, understanding storage and preservation technology can support starting an agribusiness venture focused specifically on reducing post-harvest losses.
Where can I study this in Ghana?+
University of Ghana offers Post-Harvest Technology as one of the options within its BSc Agriculture programme.
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