Analysis of causes of post harvest losses of agricultural commodity dealers in Imo State

Abstract

The study was on Analysis of causes of post-harvest losses of Agricultural commodity dealers in Imo State, Nigeria. Across Nigeria, and mainly, in Imo State, A large amount of perishable agricultural commodities are not reaching the consumer particularly due to damaging in the process of marketing. Empirical studies to systematically assess the causes of these losses of the dealers are relatively scarce. It was against these backdrops that the study was carefully undertaken. Specifically, the study was guided by the following objectives; describing the socioeconomic characteristics of perishable agricultural commodity dealers in Imo State; identifying perishable agricultural commodities sold by commodity dealers; identifying types of post-harvest losses experienced by the commodity dealers; ascertaining causes of post-harvest losses of commodity dealers. A Multistage sampling procedure was used in the selection of one-hundred and eighty (180) perishable agricultural commodity dealers. Structured questionnaire was the main tool for data collection. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools and Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression analysis. The socio-economic characteristics result shows that approximately 65.56% were female, with a mean age of 40.00 years. Most (67.78%) were married with an average household size of 7 persons. Average marketing experience and monthly income were 24.00years, and ? 65,000.00 respectively. About (70.56%) had secondary education. Most of the dealers were involved in banana (98.89%), watermelon (96.11%) and pineapple (97.78%) among other perishable agricultural commodities they are involved-in, in the area. The dealers identified quality losses (altered physical condition or characteristics) (97.22%) as the most losses they experienced among other losses in the area. Poor transportation facilities (road; rickety vehicles) (98.33%) and poor handling skill (95.56%) were among the causes of post-harvest losses the dealers identified. It was therefore recommended that dealers through their various cooperative societies should collectively and judiciously pool resources together to acquire modern storage and processing facilities to help reduce post-harvest losses as these would significantly improve their sales, income and standard of living significantly in the area.