Research Article

Postharvest Losses in Onion: Causes and Determinants

Volume: 26 Number: 2 April 30, 2023
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Postharvest Losses in Onion: Causes and Determinants

Abstract

Reducing post-harvest losses is a reasonable step towards food security globally. However, the lack of deep knowledge of the causes and determinants of postharvest loss poses a great challenge to strategies for alleviating postharvest loss. This study, therefore, identifies the causes and drivers of postharvest losses in onion, in Nigeria, to alleviate the menace. Data collected from 360 farmers between February and April 2021 were analyzed with descriptive statistics and a multiple regression model. Results showed that the primary causes of postharvest loss were rot, diseases and pests, drying, and bruises. While, poor storage facilities, poor transportation systems, long distances to marketing centers, poor agricultural extension services, and inadequate credit were secondary causes. The driving factors of postharvest losses in onion were extension services (β = -0.1269, p < .05), access to credit (β = -0.1054, p < .05), household size (β = -0.2650, p < .01), age of the farmer (β = 0.0557, p < .05), level of education (β = -1.0500, p < .01), farm size (β = 0.3801, p < .01), distance to market (β = 0.2187, p < .05), output (β = 0.1180, p < .01), and length of storage after harvest (β = 0.0635, p < .05). These findings call for improved transportation systems in agrarian areas, overhauling of extension services, making credit facilities available to farmers at affordable interest rates, and developing efficient post-harvest management technologies by research institutes.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

April 30, 2023

Submission Date

March 22, 2022

Acceptance Date

September 29, 2022

Published in Issue

Year 2023 Volume: 26 Number: 2

APA
Falola, A., Mukaila, R., Uddın Iı, R. O., Ajewole, C. O., & Gbadebo, W. (2023). Postharvest Losses in Onion: Causes and Determinants. Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Tarım Ve Doğa Dergisi, 26(2), 346-354. https://doi.org/10.18016/ksutarimdoga.vi.1091225

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