Assessment on post-harvest losses of tomato value chain in Ikire, Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum) is a popular vegetable that belongs to the family Solanaceae. It is largely cultivated and consumed globally, due to its nutritional content. It is called “the poor man’s orange” because it is rich in vitamin C, marlic, and citric acids and is cheap in its price. It is a stable crop produced by small-scale farmers to meet their household needs and nutritional supplements. The purpose of this study was to assess post-harvest losses of the tomato value chain in Ikire, Osun State, Nigeria. The main objectives were to: examine the socio-demographics of farmers, post-harvest handling practices, and tomato post-harvest losses; examine determinants of farm-level post-harvest losses of tomato; and understand constraints faced by farmers at each stage of the tomato value chain. To achieve these objectives, a structured questionnaire, random sampling, and snowball selection techniques were used to collect primary data from small-scale tomato farmers. Cobb Douglas production function was used to examine determinants of farm-level post-harvest losses of tomatoes. Regarding the demographic characteristics of farmers, the results revealed that 17.5% were artisans, 13.8% civil servants, 35% full-time farmers, 8.8% public transporters and 20% traders. This is an indication that most respondents were involved in other activities not related to farming and marketing of farm products. The findings from the Cobb Douglas production function show that variables, such as education (coefficient =-0.308: P=0.021), size of household (coefficient =-0.255: P<0.05), total amount of harvest = 1.844: P<0.05) and selling price (coefficient -1.766: P<0.05) were major determinants of farm-level losses of tomatoes. Pest and diseases were ranked first by farmers as their major constraints. The study also discovered several factors that have a significant impact on fresh tomato postharvest losses among actors (farmers). Inadequate storage facilities, lack of financial support and Inadequate ready markets to sell produce were identified as major constraints faced by farmers at various stages of the value chain of tomato. Most farmers lacked training and 85% of respondents lacked storage facilities to preserve their produce. There is a need therefore, for farmers to seek technical and financial information from various institutions that provide credit facilities and technical support. There is also the need for farmers to formulate a strong pricing policy to covers losses incurred during post-harvest process as such efforts could assist in reducing and/or eliminating post-harvest losses of tomatoes as it reduces revenues and profit of farmers.