FACTORS INFLUENCING POST HARVEST LOSSES AMONG VEGETABLE FARMERS AND TRADERS IN THE NORTH EAST REGION OF GHANA

Abstract

A study was conducted in the north east region of Ghana to ascertain the vegetables produced and marketed by farmers and traders respectively and determine the causes of post-harvest losses among the farmers and traders. Multistage random sampling procedure was used to select respondents and a set of structured questionnaires were administered. The data collected were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics. 126 vegetable farmers and 45 vegetable traders were interviewed. The findings showed that majority (73 %) of vegetable producers in the North East Region were men, whereas majority (80%) of the traders was women. Also, 85.7 % of farmers and 93.3% of traders were in the age range of 20 - 50 years. The study also showed that majority (54.8%) of farmers in the Region did not have formal education likewise majority (40%) of the traders. Further, 65.1 % of the farmers and 66.7 % of the traders in the Region were married. About 15.87 % of the farmers and 20 % of the traders were widows. About 68.3 % of the respondents had 1 - 5 years of vegetable production experiences. Also, 27 % of the respondents had 6 - 10 years vegetable production experience while 3.2 % and 1.6 % had 1 - 15 years and above 15 years had production experiences respectively. Also, 36.5 % of farmers produced leafy vegetables while 31.7 % in each case produced tuber vegetables and fruit and bulb vegetables. At the trader level, 60% traded leafy vegetables, 33.33 % traded fruit and bulb vegetables while 6.67% traded tuber vegetables. Pest and disease attack, rot, poor handling, change in rainfall pattern, transportation systems and road network and insufficient/poor storage facilities were identified as the causes of vegetable losses at the farmer level in the Region. On the other hand, poor road network, lack of ready market, lack of quality packaging materials, poor handling and inadequate storage infrastructures were recorded as causes of vegetable loss at the trader level. It is therefore important that periodic trainings be conducted for vegetable farmers and traders in the study area on good agricultural and handling practices while good road networks in addition to production and market infrastructure be put in place for enhanced vegetable business.