Mango season in Malawi is over and we were devastated to learn that 80% of the crop was wasted due to post-harvest loss. According to the Ministry of Agriculture for the Northern Districts, an 80% loss is common. The mangoes ripen and with no way to preserve them, the fruit simply rots.
Of course, that 80% could be saved with solar dehydrators, and the fruit that cannot be eaten immediately could be dehydrated, allowing it to last for months. This would, as we've said time and again, would decimate the hunger and rejuvenate the economy.
That 80% is even more significant when one considers the ubiquity of mango trees. They grow all throughout Malawi. As well as orchards, there are scattered "backyard" trees, which is to say single mango trees that have grown in people's yards. The trees provide shade, a gathering place for adults, hours of entertainment for the children, and obviously food.
The mangoes themselves provide many much needed nutrients including iron, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, fiber, minerals and antioxidants. So they are an incredibly valuable crop.
The mango loss is devastating and absolutely unnecessary. It is something we want to change, and we want you to join us.
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