Assessing Fruit Farmers’ Perceptions of Post-Harvest Losses in the Ashanti Region of Ghana
Abstract
Post-harvest loss reduces food availability. The need to examine post-harvest loss in Africa is recognized in one of 2030 SDG goals for sustainable consumption and production. This goal appears to be a tremendous challenge as Africa expects to double its population from 1.2 billion to 2.5 billion. This paper examines fruit farmers’ perceptions about post-harvest loss in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. We interviewed 70 fruit farmers about the sources of post-harvest loss. We also assessed the relationship between their perceptions and socio-demographic characteristics. In revealing nuanced perceptions, we used the five-point Likert-scale in some questions. To determine the relationship between farmers’ perceptions and their socio-demographic characteristics, we conducted the multiple linear regression analysis. We found that the respondents were most concerned about their loss at market centers and storage. Loss during transportation was the least source of post-harvest loss perceived by the fruit farmers. The results from the regression analysis also showed that age, gender and farming experience were significantly associated with their perceptions. This paper then makes some recommendations to help reduce post-harvest loss for farmers.
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Introduction
The past studies on post-harvest loss of fruit crops tended to focus on estimating the amount of loss occurring on farms. Reference [1], for example, estimated the amount of post-harvest loss of mango fruits in Benin. After interviewing the farmers, they found about 50% of harvest was lost at the end of the crop year. A similar study in Costa Rica found 14.1% of post-harvest loss of the same fruit during the dry season, and 84.4% during the rainy season [2]. Using the questionnaire survey, [3] in Brazil found 28% of post-harvest loss of mangoes. Another study in Pakistan found that 31% of mangoes lost in the transportation process from farm to market centers [4].
Other fruits also had estimation studies on post-harvest loss. Studies on bananas tend to suggest that long distance for transportation and poor road conditions led to more losses in Kenya [5]. In Sri Lanka, a questionnaire survey revealed that 20% of post-harvest loss of banana occurred from farms to distribution centers [6]. In Fiji, 4% to 10% of post-harvest loss of fruits in general occurred at municipal markets [7].
These studies provided some valuable information about the varying amount of post-harvest loss by types of fruits and areas, but they are remarkably silent about the main causes of post-harvest loss. Considering this research gap, this paper attempts to identify the main sources of post-harvest loss. In particular, it examines fruit farmers’ perceptions about the sources of post-harvest loss in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. It also assesses the correlation between farmers’ perceptions and their socio-demographic characteristics to determine the factors that influence their perceptions.
Conclusion
This study examined the sources of post-harvest loss as perceived by fruit farmers in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Our findings revealed that, overall, the respondent’sperceived loss at market centers as the most serious issues. They also emphasized loss at storage and pest infestations. Contrary to some of past studies, loss during transportation was not urgent concern for the respondents as they could make a previous arrangement for transportation to minimize loss. However, the respondents appeared to have neglected to care about types of bags or containers that may help store harvested fruits for a longer period of time. From the regression analysis, we found that age and experience had significant correlations with respondents’ perceptions about post-harvest loss. Interestingly, gender, educational level, land size and household size had no significant correlations with the perceptions of loss.
Considering these results, we recommend that the Ghana government or market associations install refrigeration facilities at markets to help preserve fruit crops. Extension officers at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture need to educate farmers about the type of bags or containers suitable for storing harvested fruit crops. Also, market traders may start marketing seasonal crops such as mangoes to consumers before it gets to the market centers.
