Show simple item record

dc.contributor.authorNasasira, Osbert
dc.date.accessioned2019-10-21T10:59:57Z
dc.date.available2019-10-21T10:59:57Z
dc.date.issued2019-10-10
dc.identifier.citationNasasira, O. (2019). Assessment of postharvest tomato losses along tomato value chain in Kyabugimbi Sub County in Bushenyi District. Unpublished undergraduate dissertation, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12281/6732
dc.description.abstractThe study assessed the post-harvest tomato losses along the tomato value chain in Kyabugimbi sub-county in Bushenyi district. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional study design. This design is quite appropriate for this study because a Cross-sectional study is a research tool is used to capture information based on data gathered for a specific point in time. The study population comprised of tomato farmers and traders along the value chain. This target group constituted respondents with experience and knowledge in tomato handling at different levels of the value chain. The Questionnaire was the most significant instruments of data collection tool that was used. The study noted that the main causes of post-harvest losses were largely from rot and bruises (mechanical damage) which were mainly caused by on-farm activities. The three most critical secondary factors that impacted heavily on postharvest losses in tomato production were lack of ready market for produce, unreliable means to transport produce to market and longer distances from producing centres to market centres. Many traders and farmers experience a percentage loss of 5%-9% and 10%- 29% respectively during storage in the markets before selling. To reduce tomato post-harvest loss, Famers were ensuring that tomatoes were harvested at the pale green stage, early light red stage, light red stage, or at the red or ripe stage. Farmers Clean hands and containers before picking tomatoes, they Harvest tomatoes by gently twisting them off the plant, they Plastic buckets and nylon net bags are ideal containers for picked tomatoes. They gently place tomatoes in picking containers. Farmers and traders were parking tomatoes in, customized wooden boxes and crates, cardboard boxes and crates, plastic bottles or jars, and clay pots. They also use green leaves or banana leaves to pad packaging containers and cushion tomatoes from crushing. Farmers and traders noted that they ensure that tomatoes are well packaged to protect them from damage when vehicles are in motion. They also use returnable plastic crates to ensure the safe transportation of their produce. Farmers and traders noted that if fresh tomatoes do not have a ready market, they store them in cool conditions to minimize spoilage / postharvest losses. The study recommends that farmers should always ensure immediate transportation of the harvested tomatoes to the markets on the day of harvest and The government should also invest more in education and training to equip the farmers with skills and knowledge in agriculture so that they can be able to apply them in the field to improve on their competences since the level of education has a positive relationship with the gross margin per hectareen_US
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherMakerere Universityen_US
dc.subjectPostharvest handlingen_US
dc.subjectTomato growingen_US
dc.subjectValue chainen_US
dc.titleAssessment of postharvest tomato losses along tomato value chain in Kyabugimbi Sub County in Bushenyi Districten_US
dc.typeThesisen_US


Files in this item

Thumbnail

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

Show simple item record