Evaluation of Postharvest Losses in Physical and Economic Perspectives Along Tomato Value Chain in Kano State, Nigeria

The study evaluate postharvest losses in physical and economic perspectives along tomato value chain in Kano State, Nigeria. Random sampling technique was applied to select a total of 517 respondents across the different segments of the value chain. Data were collected from the field using a structured questionnaire and qualitative data were collected through Focus Group Discussions (FGD), Key Informant Interviews (KII) with institutions and other value chain supporters. Descriptive statistics, gross margin analysis and an Informal Food Loss Assessment Method (IFLAM) were used in data analysis. Result of the study reveals that tomato wastage occurs mainly at the harvesting, packaging, loading and offloading, at storage and during transportation and delivery to different markets. All actors along the value chain experience losses at different stages. An average physical loss of 1,154Kg, 698Kg, 942Kg, 323Kg, and 229Kg were estimated at different points of activities along the value chain for Farmers, Rural assemblers, wholesalers, retailers and processors respectively, while the estimated economic losses of tomato for various actors in the value chain for Farmers, Rural Assemblers, Wholesalers, Retailers and Processors was found to be ₦336,312.9, ₦382,771.5, ₦534,086.0, ₦269,769.1 and ₦116,014.7 respectively. It can be concluded that postharvest loss is a major threat to tomato value chain actors in the study area. It was also discovered that attack by insect, pest and diseases, lack of storage facilities like cold room, lack of processing industries, inadequate investment capital, poor flow of market information along the value chain, poor packaging materials, lack of government support among others were among the major reasons for tomato postharvest losses across the value chain. It is therefore recommended that stakeholders like government, NGOs, research centers, development partners and cooperatives organization should provide cold store facilities along the value chain in the study area.