Volume 3 (Issue 2) 2023 Article 12

ABSTRACT:

The study assesses postharvest management technologies of selected horticultural crops (fruits and vegetables) among rural farmers in kogi state, Nigeria. A sample size of 205 respondents was selected using stratified and simple random sampling technique. A well-structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Data collected were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The results revealed that six (6) traditional method of postharvest management technologies were mostly practiced (use of hot water for washing and cleaning (x=3.14), use of hand for sorting and grading (x = 2.99), use of head and truck for transportation of produce (x = 2.83), use of woven basket for packaging (x = 2.76) and hand picking for harvesting (x = 2.72). Evidence from the study also shows that the use of modern postharvest management technologies by horticultural farmers was generally low. Result equally revealed that there were three major challenges faced by horticultural farmers in reducing post-harvest losses of their produce namely: socio-economic challenges (Factor 1), environmental challenges (Factor 2) and infrastructural challenges (Factor 3). Kruskal Wallis (H) test shows that R1=100.4, R2=100.9, R3=99.9. With Px = 0.995 indicating that, there is no significant difference among farmers in the three agricultural zones in terms of their level of awareness on modern post-harvest management technologies. It was therefore recommended that research institutes mandated with research on horticulture and post-harvest technologies should step down their research output to Agricultural Extension Workers at the state ADPs and also to concerned farmers. Agricultural extension workers should regularly be enlightening horticultural farmers (fruits and vegetables) on new and more improved technologies and skills for handling, processing, storage and packaging of their produce, also international/national investors and non-governmental organisations can establish agro-based industries for processing and packaging of horticultural produce in Kogi State.