Scoping and Mapping of Postharvest lossesand Tuta Absoluta Related losses and the Technologies for Combating the Losses
| Author | Aderibigbe Olaide | |
| Author | Oke Abiola | |
| Jurisdiction: | Nigeria | |
| Date of acession | 2024-06-13T07:56:38Z | |
| Date of availability | 2024-06-13T07:56:38Z | |
| Date of issue | 2023-01 | |
| Abstract | Vegetable production is a very important business all over Nigeria. For this reason, vegetables have specific importance in providing a balanced and healthy diet to people. Due to their soft texture, they are easily bruised or wounded as a result of harvesting, and other postharvest handling operations such as packaging, transportation, and storage. No matter how any intervention(s) tries to work on increasing vegetable production, if nothing is done on the postharvest handling part, the production will always be inadequate. About 30% vegetables are rendered unfit for consumption due to spoilage after harvesting. This is a huge loss of valuable food even when the minimum food requirement of the population is not met. Therefore, it is important not only to grow more, but also to save what is grown. Reducing postharvest loss of vegetables and adding value to the final produce will be a complementary means for increasing production and marketing value. Tomato remains a priority crop for vegetable farmers and consumers alike. This vegetable is consumed by every household in Nigeria. In terms of production, the country is ranked 14th among tomato producing countries in the world and 2nd in Africa, with 3.9 million tonnes produced on average every year. The estimated potential production yield is relatively high, at about 20-25mt/ha. There exist a large domestic and regional market unmet demand for tomatoes in the country and Nigerians alone consume an estimated 2.3 million tonnes of tomatoes annually. The massive postharvest losses have contributed greatly to the gap. Data on the quantities or percentages of tomato losses are staggered and vary from researcher to researcher. Thus, there is a need to generate accurate and up-to-date data on the percentage losses, hotspots for losses and technologies adopted by stakeholders to reduce loss. 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY egetable production is a very important business all over Nigeria. For this reason, vegetables have specific importance in providing a balanced and healthy diet to people. Due to their soft texture, they are easily bruised or wounded as a result of harvesting, and other postharvest handling operations such as packaging, transportation, and storage. No matter how any intervention(s) tries to work on increasing vegetable production, if nothing is done on the postharvest handling part, the production will always be inadequate. About 30% vegetables are rendered unfit for consumption due to spoilage after harvesting. This is a huge loss of valuable food even when the minimum food requirement of the population is not met. Therefore, it is important not only to grow more, but also to save what is grown. Reducing postharvest loss of vegetables and adding value to the final produce will be a complementary means for increasing production and marketing value. In addition, tomato is highly susceptible to pest/diseases and abiotic stress. Recurrent pest and diseases also contribute significantly to tomato losses among farmers. In 2015/2016, the tomato value chain in Nigeria experienced huge losses occasioned by the disease ‘Tuta absoluta,’ locally known as ‘Tomato Ebola,’ which resulted in up to 80 percent yield loss. A mapping exercise conducted around 2016 showed that the pest had spread to 360 out of the 528 locations that were investigated. The current work was conducted within the HortiNigeria program. The program aims to facilitate a sustainable and gender- and youth-inclusive horticulture sector that will contribute to food and nutrition security in Nigeria. The program is also designed to identify and promote innovative agricultural technologies that are commercially viable, environmentally sustainable, and proven to work. Based on this background, HortiNigeria engaged the services of the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) to conduct a scoping on postharvest handling and value addition technologies in Oyo and Ogun States with focus on the program’s major crops (Tomato, Pepper, Okra and Onion) and map postharvest loss in selected states in Nigeria. HortiNigeria also sought to know the current efforts expanded on Tuta absoluta especially how from the various research already done by NIHORT and others is translating to the market end of producing marketable products to address Tuta absoluta challenges. Furthermore, the program through the engagement sought to reconvene the National Tomato Stakeholders Committee (NTSC) to identify and provide solution options to current and enduring issues restraining progression in the tomato value chain in Nigeria The study was carried out in three phases. Phase 1 involved an intensive literature search of studies on postharvest technologies conducted in Nigeria and a review of Tuta absoluta control strategies. In the second phase, a survey of available postharvest technologies through key Scoping and Mapping of Postharvest Losses informant interviews was carried out to validate the findings of the desk review in Oyo and Ogun State. This targeted stakeholders in tomato, okra, pepper and onion value chains in Ogun and Oyo States. A mapping of tomato postharvest and Tuta absolutarelated losses in Oyo, Ogun, Kano and Kaduna states was conducted in the final phase using a face-to face interview method. In addition, the National Tomato Technical Stakeholders committee meeting was convened, and a communique developed. This study identifies the postharvest practices of farmers, processors, marketers and transporters in mitigating tomato postharvest loss along the value chain. It analyses the percentage losses, identifies the hotspots for losses and technologies used in mitigating losses and in the control of Tuta absoluta. The result confirms that the tomato value chain in the country is still evolving in terms of postharvest technologies and the control of insect pests, particularly Tuta absoluta. Percentage losses vary across the value chain and are caused by multiple factors. Stakeholders reported tomato losses ranging from 12% among transporters to 27% among producers. This study identifies the postharvest practices of farmers, processors, marketers and transporters in mitigating tomato postharvest loss along the value chain. It analyses the percentage losses, identifies the hotspots for losses and technologies used in mitigating losses and in the control of Tuta absoluta. The result confirms that the tomato value chain in the country is still evolving in terms of postharvest technologies and the control of insect pests, particularly Tuta absoluta. Percentage losses vary across the value chain and are caused by multiple factors. Stakeholders reported tomato losses ranging from 12% among transporters to 27% among producers. The hottest spots for losses are during production and harvesting, and at market level. Cooling, grading, sorting, use of solar dryers, evaporative cooling chambers and returnable plastic crates were used by stakeholders to reduce losses. The study recommends adopting innovative technologies that can significantly reduce postharvest losses. For instance, the use of low-cost solar dryers and evaporative coolers can extend the shelf life of tomatoes, enabling farmers to store and transport their produce more effectively. Enhancing cottage processing industries sited close to producing areas will ensure that produce do not waste during bumper harvest. Furthermore, implementing pest-resistant varieties, biocontrol methods, and good agricultural practices can help mitigate losses caused by pests and diseases. Enhancing the knowledge and skills of farmers, extension workers, and other stakeholders is vital for Scoping and Mapping of Postharvest Losses reducing postharvest losses. A holistic strategy that combines the concerted efforts of chain actors and influencers to address postharvest losses in the country is necessary. | |
| URL | https://hub.ifdc.org/handle/20.500.14297/3047 | |
| Language | en | |
| Subject | Postharvest losses | |
| Subject | Tomato | |
| Title | Scoping and Mapping of Postharvest lossesand Tuta Absoluta Related losses and the Technologies for Combating the Losses | |
| Type | Article |
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