Volume 19, Issue 1, November 2015, Pages 201–208
P.G. Kughur1, G.M. Iornenge2, and B.E. Ityonongu3
1 Agricultural Extension and Communication Department, University of Agriculture, Makurdi Benue State, Nigeria
2 Agricultural Extension and Communication Department, University of Agriculture, Makurdi Benue State, Nigeria
3 Agricultural Extension & Communication Department, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria
Original language: English
Copyright © 2015 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
The study examined the effects of postharvest losses on selected fruits and vegetables among small-scale farmers in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State. Purposive sampling was adopted in selecting four different local fruits and vegetable markets, in each of the markets selected 30 respondents (fruits and vegetables producers) were selected randomly, making a total of 120 respondents. Structured questionnaire was administered on the respondents through interview. Data collected were analyzed through descriptive statistics and multiple regression. Results of the findings revealed that 55% of the producers were female, 38.2% were age between 21-30 years, 85.8% had family size of between 1-5 persons, 36.7% attended tertiary institutions, 62% were farmers and 56.7% had farming experience of between 1-9 years. The results further revealed that 48.5% lost about $30.5 on annual basis, 35% lost at least 1,000Kg of fruits and vegetables on annual basis, 57.5% lost produce due to non-availability of buyers, 55% of the produce were tomatoes, there was a significant difference between effects of postharvest losses and socio-economic characteristics of the respondents at (P<1). It is recommended that government should provide infrastructure for fruits and vegetables processing industries to be established in the area to avoid fruits and vegetables wastages.
Author Keywords: postharvest, losses, fruits, vegetables, farmers.
P.G. Kughur1, G.M. Iornenge2, and B.E. Ityonongu3
1 Agricultural Extension and Communication Department, University of Agriculture, Makurdi Benue State, Nigeria
2 Agricultural Extension and Communication Department, University of Agriculture, Makurdi Benue State, Nigeria
3 Agricultural Extension & Communication Department, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria
Original language: English
Copyright © 2015 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
The study examined the effects of postharvest losses on selected fruits and vegetables among small-scale farmers in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State. Purposive sampling was adopted in selecting four different local fruits and vegetable markets, in each of the markets selected 30 respondents (fruits and vegetables producers) were selected randomly, making a total of 120 respondents. Structured questionnaire was administered on the respondents through interview. Data collected were analyzed through descriptive statistics and multiple regression. Results of the findings revealed that 55% of the producers were female, 38.2% were age between 21-30 years, 85.8% had family size of between 1-5 persons, 36.7% attended tertiary institutions, 62% were farmers and 56.7% had farming experience of between 1-9 years. The results further revealed that 48.5% lost about $30.5 on annual basis, 35% lost at least 1,000Kg of fruits and vegetables on annual basis, 57.5% lost produce due to non-availability of buyers, 55% of the produce were tomatoes, there was a significant difference between effects of postharvest losses and socio-economic characteristics of the respondents at (P<1). It is recommended that government should provide infrastructure for fruits and vegetables processing industries to be established in the area to avoid fruits and vegetables wastages.
Author Keywords: postharvest, losses, fruits, vegetables, farmers.
How to Cite this Article
P.G. Kughur, G.M. Iornenge, and B.E. Ityonongu, “Effects of Postharvest Losses on Selected Fruits and Vegetables Among Small-scale Farmers in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria,” International Journal of Innovation and Scientific Research, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 201–208, November 2015.
