In Niger Republic, the various investments in irrigation sector have made possible to promote irrigated rice cultivation in the river valley and have increase significantly the production. However little attention is given to harvesting and post-production operations; operations likely to reduce harvest/post-production yields, quality of paddy and white rice after milling. The present study has inventoried the harvest and pre/post-harvest operations that impact the production and quality of paddy and white rice, respectively obtained at the rice-growing perimeter of Toula and produced by the Niger Republic Rice Company (RINI). It consisted of monitoring harvesting activities and that of the RINI factory, through a questionnaire guide, the monitoring of the various operations and the estimation of yield and quality losses registered in farm and at RINI. The results obtained showed that post-production and quality losses of paddy and white rice remain closely linked to the harvesting operations carried out by the farmers, but also to the handling and conditions of the infrastructures and machines intended for processing. The losses due to humidity during paddy storage were also factors favoring the reduction in the quantity and quality of white rice. These results will help improve post-harvesting techniques, with a view to boosting local rice productivity and quality in all producer countries.
