Effects of post-harvest losses on banana growers in Kibaale district.

Abstract

Post-harvest loss reduction is one of the important criteria to ensure the total amount of bananas available at the consumer’s level. This study identified the post-harvest losses which affect smallholder farmers in Kibaale district. The objectives of the study were to examine the effects of post-harvest losses on growers of bananas in Kibaale district, to characterize banana farmers in Kibaale District, to identify the different causes of post-harvest losses in banana production among smallholder farmers of Kibaale district and to examine the factors that influences the choice of adoption of post-harvest handling technologies by banana farmers of Kibaale district. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 62 banana growers. Well-designed questionnaires were used to collect mainly quantitative data from the respondents. The data was analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Scientists) version 16.0 statistical package. The study revealed that banana growers were to adopt the postharvest handling technologies so as to reduce on the postharvest losses mainly at the farm level. According to the descriptive statistics generated, the results revealed that females were more in banana growing unlike the men. Most of the respondents were traders therefore carried out trading as their other economic activity despite banana production. Banana growers allocated their land to banana production in acres. The means of transport used were mainly bicycles and most respondents tend to sell a fraction of their bananas after harvesting and they store the other fraction. Most banana growers used rudimentary tools and hands as the method of harvesting. The results also revealed that the level of education, transportation of bananas after harvesting and the method of harvesting significantly influenced the choice of adoption of post-harvest handling technologies by banana growers in Kibaale district. Therefore creating more awareness about the different post-harvest handling techniques and technologies among banana growers was a key in reducing postharvest losses amongst banana growers.