ABSTRACT

The study analysed the use of post-harvest management practices in preservation of tomatoes in Benue state, Nigeria and specifically described the socio-economic characteristics of tomato farmers in Benue State, Nigeria, identified the post-harvest management practices, identified the sources of information on post-harvest management practice, ascertained the extent of utilization of post-harvest management practices, ascertained costliness of utilizing the post-harvest management practice, ascertained the effectiveness in utilization of post-harvest practices of tomatoes. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select a sample size of one hundred and eighty farmers for the study. Data were collected through questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics such as multiples regression analysis and z-test. Results showed farmers mean age of 33 years, mean years of schooling of 12 years, mean household size of 5 persons, mean farm size of 0.6ha and mean annual income of N235.166. Result also showed that the farmers’ sources of information were mainly neighbors (81.7%), family members (81.7%), and fellow farmers (81.1%). From the result, the foremost postharvest management practices used by the tomato farmers were storage in wooden crates or woven cane baskets (X = 3.35), and storage on the floor (X = 2.60). Relatively, there was low utilization of the post-harvest practices since the grand mean of traditional (x =2.09) and modern (x = 1.54) were below the decision rule. Furthermore, results of effectiveness of tomato post management practices revealed that storage in wooden crates or woven cane baskets (* = 2.24), storage on the floor (x = 2.20) and cool storage under tree shades, thatch, among others (X =2.10) were most effective post-harvest management practices of tomatoes with a grand mean of (x = 2.18). The result of the study further showed that the major constraints associated with the use of post-harvest management practices oftomatoes were pests and rodents attack (x = 3.08), cost oflabour is high starting from getting materials (X = 3.08) and tomato spoilage is very high (X = 3.08). The result of the regression analysis showed the coefficient of age (0.131), sex (-0.122), education (0.146), extension visit (0.253), cooperative membership (0.541), and farm size (0.319) were significantly related with the farmers’ utilization of tomatoes post-harvest management practices at 5% significant level. The Z-test result showed a significant difference in the effectiveness oftraditional (X=2.1792) and modern (*=1.4361) utilization of post-harvest management practice, with a Z-value of (3.413) thereby rejecting the null hypothesis. This result indicated that, the traditional was more effective than the modern. The study concluded that traditional post-harvest management practices were more effective, most utilized and most beneficial in the study area compare to the modem. The study recommended that government and technology developers should consolidate on farmers’ indigenous knowledge in developing technology for easy acceptability. Also a processing factory should be built where the tomatoes can be processed into paste in order eliminate seasonality ofthe product or spoilage.