Assessing the determinants of post-harvest losses amongst coffee farmers a case study of Namayumba sub county Wakiso district

Abstract

Coffee is one of the most important agricultural commodities in the world. The coffee quality and losses are associated with pre-harvest and post-harvest management activities. The post-harvest processing activities contribute about 60% of the loss of coffee. The post-harvest operations include pulping, processing, drying, hulling, cleaning, sorting, grading, storage, roasting, grinding, and cupping. This research work has been able to assess the determinants of post-harvest losses amongst coffee farmers. The first chapter introduced the study. Chapter two discussed relevant literatures; it then provided the theoretical framework backing this research. Chapter three dealt with research methodology while chapter four discussed the data gotten from the research, chapter five presented the summary, conclusion and recommendation. In all,60 questionnaires were distributed to coffee farmers and they were all answered and returned. It was proven that there are losses in coffee during the post-harvest activities due to rain, falling on the ground, poor quality coffee, poor transportation means and mould growth. It is concluded that, research in post-harvest coffee husbandry is needed to reach to a comprehensive recommendation and several recommendations were made to both farmers and the government such as the government should enhance farmer access to better and improved planting materials such as practicing improved farming practices like the new Brazilian style of growing coffee which brings about better yield, government should set up training programs can ensure that smaller holder coffee farmers gain the necessary skills on post-harvest handling to manage post-harvest losses because with these little acquired skills farmers lose little coffee compared to when they are not skilled.