Knowledge of Farmers on Post-Harvest Handling of Tomato in Enugu State, Nigeria
Abstract
ABSTRACT The study assessed the knowledge of tomato farmers in Enugu State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study determined the knowledge level and practical skills of farmers on post-harvest handling, ascertained the causes of post-harvest losses, and ascertained the constraints to tomato post-harvest handling. A multistage sampling procedure was used in selecting 96 respondents for the study. Four local government areas were purposefully selected for predominating tomato production. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Percentage, mean score, standard deviation, and linear regression were used for data analysis. The study revealed that the majority (86.7%) had high knowledge of post-harvest handling. There is a significant negative relationship between annual income from production (t = -4.306; P? 0.05) and their knowledge of post-harvest handling. Most farmers (84.2%) had moderate skills in post-harvest handling. Excess heat (40.0%) was the main cause of post-harvest loss. Constraints to post-harvest handling include the high cost of improved implements ( 4.75) and inadequate knowledge about post-harvest technologies ( =4.43). In conclusion, farmers had moderate knowledge and skills for post-harvest handling, which causes huge losses in product and profit. The study recommends that adequate training be given to farmers by the extension agents on non-tasking post-harvest techniques.References
References
Abera, G., Ibrahim, A. M., Forsido, S. F., & Kuyu, C. G. (2020). Assessment on post-harvest losses of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentem Mill.) in selected districts of East Shewa Zone of Ethiopia using a commodity system analysis methodology. Heliyon, 6(4), e03749. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03749
Ajibare, D. B., Anthony, L., Alabi, O. O., Njoku, V. O., Ukaoha, C. A., & Oluleye, O. D. (2022). Resource Use Efficiency and Profitability Analysis of Tomato Production (Lycopersicum Esculetum Species) in Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria. European Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences, 4(5), 75–82. https://doi.org/10.24018/ejfood.2022.4.5.539
Brander, M., Bernauer, T., & Huss, M. (2020). Improved on-farm storagereduces seasonal food insecurity of smallholder farmer households –Evidence from a randomized control trial in Tanzania. Food Policy,98, 101891
Debebe, S. (2022). Post-harvest losses of crops and its determinants in Ethiopia: tobit model analysis. Agriculture & Food Security, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-022-00357-6
Despoudi, S. (2021). Challenges in reducing food losses at producers’ level: The case of Greek agricultural supply chain producers. Industrial Marketing Management, 93, 520–532. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2020.09.022
FAO. (2021). Nigeria FAOSTAT.
Firdous, N. (2020). Post-harvest losses in different fresh produces and vegetables in Pakistan with particular focus on tomatoes. Journal of Horticulture and Postharvest Research, Online First. https://doi.org/10.22077/jhpr.2020.3168.1125
Hussein, Z., Fawole, O. A., & Opara, U. L. (2020b). Harvest and postharvest factors affecting bruise damage of fresh fruits. Horticultural Plant Journal, 6(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hpj.2019.07.006
Hussein, Z., Fawole, O. A., & Opara, U. L. (2020b). Harvest and postharvest factors affecting bruise damage of fresh fruits. Horticultural Plant Journal, 6(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hpj.2019.07.006
Joseph, M., Bunyatta, D. K., & Langat, J. K. (2021). Perceptions of smallholder farmers on influence of packaging postharvest handling technology on quality of tomatoes in Kisii and Nyamira Counties, Kenya. East African Scholars Journal of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 4(6), 133–140. https://doi.org/10.36349/easjals.2021.v04i06.001
Koza, W. (2022). Effects of climate variability on small-scale production of tomatoes (solarium lycopersicum) in Mopani District of Limpopo Province, South Africa. https://univendspace.univen.ac.za/handle/11602/2388
Kulwijila, M. (2021). Socio-Economic Determinants of Post-Harvest Losses in the Grape Value Chain in Dodoma Municipality and Chamwino District, Tanzania. African Journal of Economic Review, 9(2). Retrieved May 10, 2024
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 violet amarachukwu ohagwu, Nwobodo, Cynthia Eberechukwu, Iwuchukwu, Juliana Chinasa
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
