Pages: (1-5 )
Abstract
This study analyzed the determinants of post harvest losses among tomato producers in Imeko – Afon local government area of Ogun State. Eighty eight tomato farmers were interviewed using the purposive sampling technique. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, regression analysis and gross margin analysis. The regression result showed that 94.8 percent in the variation in the quantity of fruit loss from harvesting to marketing stage were explained by the specified variables and only 5.2 percent of the variation in the quantity of fruit loss was explained by other variables not specified. The gross margin analysis showed that losses had a significant effect on the income of the farmers. The main determinants of the losses from this study were the distance from the farm to the market, age of fruit at harvest, the size of farm put to cultivation of tomato and the number of the baskets that were harvested. In order for post harvest losses to be reduced, there should be intensification and follow up training to facilitate adoption of the newly introduced post harvest technology initiative by the government. Cooperative marketing and organization of farmers markets should also be encouraged among farmers to ameliorate losses related to marketing.
Keywords: Post-harvest losses, Gross margin, tomato, cooperative marketing.,