Rainfall variability and cash crops postharvest losses: Evidence from groundnuts in Burkina Faso

This study explores the impact of both short-term and long-term rainfall variability on groundnuts postharvest loss in Burkina Faso. To deal with the sample selection issue and the nature of the data collected within the Enquete Multisectorielle Continue du Burkina Faso (EMC-BF) 2014, an interval regression with selection was carried out. It is found that both short-term and long-term changes in rainfall are important determinant of groundnuts postharvest loss. However, the magnitude of the postharvest loss seems to be independent of rainfall variability. The study also revealed that, the size, the topography and the soil of the plot, the household size, and the time to food market are significantly associated to postharvest loss occurrence. Furthermore, the size and the tenure system of the plot, the type, and the quantity of labor for harvesting and the production assets influence the groundnuts postharvest loss magnitude.