Effectiveness of Zero Energy Cooling Chambers by Tomato Marketers in Ogun State

Abstract

The need to enhance the storability and the shelf life of tomato fruits brought about the development of zero energy cooling chambers (ZECC) for the use of tomato value chain actors. In view of this, this study evaluated the effectiveness of three different types of zero energy cooling chambers (ZECC) by tomato marketers in Ogun State. Structured interview schedule was employed to obtain primary data from 80 tomato marketers’ selected using multi stage sampling procedure. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results showed that all (100%) the sampled marketers were females. The mean age was 41.9 years marketers, 98.8% of the marketers were married while 55.0% of the marketers had primary school certificate. All (100%) the marketers stored tomato using open shelf and all (100%) the marketers were not aware of the zero energy cooling chambers. All the marketers (100%) adjudged the brick-in-brick, pot-in-pot, tin-in-pot effective for maintaining fruit firmness, fruit colour, quality and shelf life extension. However, less than 5.0% of marketers are of the opinion that brick-in-brick and pot-in-pot were ineffective for reducing disease incidence. The study concluded that there is low level of awareness of ZECC and that the tomato marketers adjudged the ZECC as effective. It was therefore recommended that steps should be taken towards creating a nationwide awareness about the ZECC and also making the resources for constructing ZECC be made available.

Keywords: Tomato, Post-Harvest, Effectiveness, Marketers, ZECC, Packaging.