Effective postharvest mitigation begins in the field long before the actual harvest takes place. The choice of agronomic practices directly influences how well a crop resists pests and environmental stress during storage.

Smallholders and commercial producers should implement these core agronomic strategies:

  • Genetics: Plant certified disease-free and insect-resistant seed varieties designed for stable storage.
  • Field Management: Control weeds early to eliminate alternative hosts for crop pests.
  • Targeted Protection: Apply recommended chemicals at the correct times to manage field pest populations.
  • Timing: Harvest promptly at physiological maturity to prevent field pests from infesting the crop before it leaves the ground.