THEMATIC MEASURES FOR REDUCING POST-HARVEST LOSSES OF VEGETABLE CROPS AMONG FARMERS IN BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

MBAH EN; AMAH NE; OKEKE MN

doi:10.22159/ijags.2022.v10i6.46590

Authors

MBAH EN Department of Agricultural Extension and Communication, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria.
AMAH NE Department of Agricultural Extension and Management, Federal College of Animal Heath and Production Technology, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria.
OKEKE MN Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Anambra State, Nigeria.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22159/ijags.2022.v10i6.46590

Keywords:

Measures, post-harvest, losses, vegetable crops, farmers, Nigeria

Abstract

The survey was carried out to ascertain thematic measures for reducing post-harvest losses of vegetable crops among farmers in Benue State, Nigeria. Questionnaire was used to collect data from a sample of 96 respondents used for the study. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean score, and standard deviation. Findings of the study revealed that about 57% of the respondents were females while 42.7% were males, 46.9% of the respondents were aged 31–40 years, and majority (80.2%) were married with 75.0% of the respondents having farming as a major occupation. A greater percentage (78.1%) of the respondents had between 6 and 10 years of farming experience and mean household size of about six persons. Results show effects of post-harvest losses to include reduction in income generation (M=3.80), decrease in quality of produce (M=3.66), unstable supply of produce (M=3.39), high cost of vegetable (M=3.30), decrease in nutritional content of the produce (M=3.26), loss of investment made by the farmer (M=3.25), and reduction on availability of vegetables for household consumption (M=3.24). Adequate provision of storage facilities (M=3.85), proper cleaning of produce (M=3.65), proper packaging of produce (M=3.60), adequate transportation facilities (M=3.56), sale of produce immediately after harvest (M=3.45), and harvesting at the right time (M=3.45) were measures indicated by the respondents for reducing post-harvest losses of vegetable crops. The study therefore recommends that there is a need for provision of adequate storage facilities to prevent losses of vegetable crops after harvesting. It also highlights that good sanitation practices in all post-harvest operations are very important factors in eliminating sources of infection and reducing contamination.

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