Abstract
The study analysed effects of Post-harvest losses on income among fresh tomato producers in
six LGAs of Borno State namely; Hawul, Bayo, Konduga, Jere, Monguno and Gubio. A multi
stage sampling technique was used to sample 210 producers. The data were collected from
primary source with the aid of structured questionnaire and were analysed using descriptive
statistics and multiple regression. The result revealed that the major causes of post-harvest
losses were pest and disease 96.7%, poor handling practices 95.7%, inadequate storage
facilities 90.5%, time of harvest 81.9%, inadequate transportation facilities 77.6% and varietal
characteristics 62.4%. At the producer’s level, the values of losses at harvest and during
transportation were significant at P<0.01 while values of losses during packaging and
education level were significant at P<0.05. It can be concluded that pest and disease poor
handling practices were among the major causes of post-harvest losses and value of loss during
harvesting, sorting, packaging, storage and transportation reduces the value of income of the
tomato producers. It can be recommended that Government should initiate affordable policies
that will improve the traditional harvesting and storage methods coupled with improved
management practices. This will help reduce post-harvest losses during harvest as well as
make it possible for vegetable farmers to store their farm produce for a longer time. Heat
treatment and sanitization should also be given to the farmers in order to reduce post-harvest
losses.
References
A. Y., Aliyu, A. S., Mamman, B. Y., Mohammed, H., Abdulhamid, U. M., Onibudu, M.
Y., Wudil, A. H. and Danbatta, B. A. (2022). An Empirical Evidence on Causes and
Mitigation of Tomato Post-Harvest Losses in Kano State, Nigeria. Savannah Journal
of Agriculture, 7(2): 23-30.
Abera, G., Ibrahim, A. M., Forsido, S. F. and Kuyu, C. G. (2020). Assessment of Post-Harvest
Losses of Tomato (lycopersicum esculentum) in Selected District of East Shewa of
Ethiopia using a Commodity System Analysis Methodology. African journal of food
science, 6(4):231-247.
Adeyanju, J. A. (2021). The Nigerian Tomato Industry: Opportunities and Challenges. Journal
of Agricultural Research and Technology. 25 (2): 1-8.
Alabi, A. O, Ojo, T. K., Awosola, O. O, and Idowu, M. A. (2020). Tomato Production in
Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects. African journal of Agricultural Research,
15(5):225-539.
Alidu, A. F., Baba-Ali, E. and Aminu, H. (2017). Determinant of Post-Harvest Losses among
Tomato Farmers in Novrongo Municipality in the Upper East Region. Journal of
Biology, (6)12:14-20.
Anaba, G, (2018). Post-Harvest Losses along the Fresh Tomato Value Chain in the Upper East
Region of Ghana. International Journal of Vegetables, 6(4):38-45.
BOSAPD (2019). Borno State Agricultural Development Program Annual Report.
FAO (2018). Statistics of the Leading Producers of Fresh Vegetables Worldwide in 2017. Food
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: Rome, Italy, 2017. pp 16-17.
FIIRO (2018). How to Manage Post-harvest Losses of Food Crops, Fruits and Vegetables.
Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi. Lagos, Nigeria. 98-104.
Kikulwe, E. M., Okurat, S., Ajambo, S., Nowakunda, K., Stoin, D. and Naziiri, D. (2018). Post
Harvest Losses and their Determinant in Tomato Production. Journal of the Science for
Food and Agriculture, 9(4):597-603.
Kuranen-Joko, D. N. and Liambee, D. H. (2017). Determinant of Post-harvest Losses among
Tomato Farmers in Gboko Local government Area of Benue State. International
Journal of Agricultural Research and Food Production, 2(4):2536-733.
National Population Commission, (2006). National Population Commission Census Report.
Onwubuya, E. A., Nwakasi, P. M., Ogbu, K. N. and Okechukwu, C. E. (2021). Technical
Production of Tomato in Nigeria: A Comparative of Contact and Non-Contact Farmers.
Annual Research and Review on Biology, 35(5):76-89.
165
Suleiman, N. J., Abdulsalam, Z., Hassan, A. A. and Yakubu, L. L. (2024). Evaluation of Pos
Harvest Losses in Physical and Economic Perspectives along Tomato Value Chain in
Kano State, Nigeria. Journal of Agripreneurship and Sustainable Development,
7(2):120-131.