Empowering Agriculture: Mitigating Postharvest Losses in Tomatoes and Peppers among Male and Female Farmers in Ekiti State, Nigeria with Indigenous Technology

Authors

  • Gbenga F. Koledoye Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, Faculty of Agriculture, Adekunle Ajasin University, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51983/ajsat-2023.12.2.4013

Keywords:

Postharvest Losses, Indigenous Technology, Tomato and Pepper

Abstract

This research focused on the application of local technologies to minimize postharvest losses of tomatoes and peppers in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Utilizing a two-stage sampling method, 138 male and 138 female vegetable farmers were randomly chosen for the study. Data collection involved questionnaires, Focus Group Discussions (FGD), and In-depth Interviews (IDI), with factor analysis employed for quantitative data and transcription according to FGD and IDI reporting standards for qualitative data. The study found that sack bags (86.2% of male and 61.2% of female farmers) and woven cane baskets (97.1% of male and 100% of female farmers) were the primary technologies used. Other methods like sun-drying, drying under fire, and blanching were less popular. Factors influencing the choice of local technologies included community (26.9%), cost/economic considerations (15.9%), education (12.9%), proximity to major towns (10.0%), and access to inputs/resources (8.4%). These factors collectively accounted for about 74.35% of the variation in technology utilization. The study concluded that reinforcing community beliefs and practices could promote the use of these indigenous technologies to reduce losses, while also encouraging farmers to adopt more of these available local methods.

References

J. M. Ajekigbe, “Financial Intermediation for Unlocking Potentials in Nigeria,” PowerPoint Presentation. First Bank of Nigeria, 2007.

B. Akbudak, N. Akbudak, V. Seniz, and A. Eris, “Effect of pre-harvest harpin and modified atmosphere packaging on quality of cherry tomato cultivars ‘Alona’ and ‘Cluster’,” British Food Journal, vol. 114, no. 2, pp. 180-196, 2012.

I. K. Arah, E. K. Kumah, E. K. Anku, and H. Amaglo, “An Overview of Post-Harvest Losses in Tomato Production in Africa: Causes and Possible Prevention Strategies,” Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare, vol. 5, no. 16, pp. 78-89, 2015.

O. M. Apata, “Assessment of Farmers’ Use of Newspaper Media Houses as Channels of Agricultural Information in Ekiti State, Nigeria,” Journal of Environmental Issues and Agriculture in Developing Countries, vol. 2, no. 2 & 3, pp. 1-9, 2010.

O. M. Apata and G. A. Shitu, “Impact Assessment of Adult Education Scheme on Agricultural Productivity in South-Western, Nigeria,” Journal of Emerging Trends in Educational Research and Policy Studies (JETERAPS), vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 333-337, 2013.

E. E. Ekong, Introduction to Rural Sociology. Dove Publishers, Uyo, 2003.

B. Emana et al., “Characterization of pre and postharvest losses of tomato supply chain in Ethiopia,” Agric. & Food Secur., vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 1-11, 2017.

J. Castelloe, “Sample Size Computations and Power Analysis with the SAS System,” in Proceedings of the Twenty-Fifth Annual SAS User’s Group International Conference (Paper 265-25), Cary, NC: SAS Institute, Inc., 2000.

Food and Agriculture Organization World Food Program, “The state of food insecurity in the World: Strengthening enabling environment for food security and Nutrition,” FAO, Rome, 2015. [Online]. Available: http://www.fao.org/3/a4ef2d16-70a7. [Accessed: September, 2016].

Food and Agriculture Organization, “Handling and Processing of Organic Fruits and Vegetables in Developing Countries,” Agro-Industries and Post-Harvest Management Service (AGSI), FAO, Rome, 2012.

Food and Agriculture Organisation FAO, “Reducing post-harvest losses in grain supply chains in Africa. Report of FAO - World Bank workshop held from 18–19th March, 2010 in Rome, FAO Italy,” 120p, 2010.

Food and Agriculture Organization, “Prevention of post-harvest food losses fruits, vegetables and root crops: a training manual,” 1989. [Online]. Available: http://www.fao.org/docrep/T0073E/T0073E00. htm. [Accessed: 22 December 2015].

J. Gustavsson et al., Global food losses and food waste. Rome: FAO, 2011. [Online]. Available: http://www.fao.org/docrep/014.

A. Hippolyte, M. Christopher, S. Pascal, and B. Christian, “Unpacking Postharvest Losses in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Meta-Analysis,” World Development, vol. 66, pp. 49-68, 2015.

S. B. Fakayode, M. A. Y. Rahji, and S. T. Adeniyi, “Economic analysis of risks in Fruit and Vegetable farming in Osun State, Nigeria,” Bangladesh Journal of Agricultural Research, vol. 37, no. 3, pp. 473-491, 2012.

P. A. Idah, E. S. A. Ajisegiri, and M. G. Yisa, “Fruits and Vegetables Handling and Transportation in Nigeria,” AU Journal of Technology, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 175-183, 2007.

P. G. Kughur, G. M. Jornenge, and B. E. Ityonongu, “Effects of postharvest losses on selected fruits and vegetables among small scale farmers in Gboko Local Government, Benue State, Nigeria,” International Journal of Innovation and Scientific Research, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 201-208, 2015.

F. F. Olayemi, J. A. Adegbola, E. I. Bamishaiye, and A. M. Daura, “Assessment of post-harvest challenges of small scale farm holders of tomatoes, bell and hot pepper in some local Government areas of Kano state, Nigeria,” Bayero Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, vol. 3, pp. 39-42, 2010.

M. O. Ofor and I. I. Ibeawuchi, “Sun-drying – A low-cost Technology for Reducing Postharvest losses,” Academic Arena, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 56-59, 2010.

J. Parfitt, M. Barthel, and S. Macnaughton, “Food waste within food supply chains: quantification and potential for change to 2050,” Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, vol. 365, no. 1554, pp. 3065–3081, 2010.

D. Prusky, “Reduction of the incidence of postharvest quality losses, and future prospects,” Food Security, vol. 3, no. 4, pp. 463–474, 2011.

World Bank, “Fact sheet: The World Bank and Agriculture in Africa,” 19, 2015.

World Bank, “Fact sheet: The World Bank and Agriculture in Africa,” 52, 2018.

O. J. Yusuf, “Gender analysis of waste utilization among household heads in rural communities of Osun state, Nigeria,” Unpublished PhD thesis submitted to the Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria, 2014.

Downloads

Published

22-11-2023

How to Cite

Koledoye, G. F. (2023). Empowering Agriculture: Mitigating Postharvest Losses in Tomatoes and Peppers among Male and Female Farmers in Ekiti State, Nigeria with Indigenous Technology. Asian Journal of Science and Applied Technology, 12(2), 13–20. https://doi.org/10.51983/ajsat-2023.12.2.4013