Determinants of Post Harvest Losses among Tomato Farmers in The Navrongo Municipality in The Upper East Region

Abstract

Food supply can be induced either by increase in production or reduction in loss. Many postharvest losses are direct result of factors such as higher temperatures on crops before harvesting, pests and diseases attack etc, hence increase in postharvest losses. The study analysed the determinants of postharvest losses among tomato farmers in the Navrongo Municipal in the Upper East region. The specific objectives were to: investigate the factors that influence the losses of tomato in the study area, determine the effects of the losses on the revenue of the tomato farmer in the study area and examine the preservative methods adopted by tomato farmers in the study area. Multiple stage sampling technique was used. Purposive sampling was employed in selecting five (5) tomato farming communities in the study area. Simple random sampling was used to select twenty (20) respondents from each of the five communities, making a total of hundred (100) respondents. Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires. Results on socio-demographic characteristics revealed that, majority of the tomato farmers were males and 50% of the respondent fell between the age ranges of 20-39 years. Majority of the farmers had household size ranging between 1 – 5 persons and that gave a percentage of 50. The multiple linear regression model result showed that 76% in the variation in the quantity of fruit loss from harvesting to marketing stages were explained by the specified variables. The double log analysis showed that 64.8% of the variation in farmers’ revenue from sales of tomato was explained by its association with the independent variables. Only eight (8) out of hundred (100) respondents adopted drying as a preservative method as at the time of study. The regression showed that losses had a significant effect on the revenue of farmers. In order for postharvest losses to be reduced, Pwalugu tomato factory needs to be re-established, Extension services should be rendered to educate tomato farmers on various ways to preserve the produce after harvest and roads linking farms to markets should be improved to reduce transit losses.

Keywords: Post-harvest losses, tomato, preservative method, adoption, farmer revenue