ABSTRACT

 The study analysed the use of post-harvest management practices in preservation of tomatoes in Benue state, Nigeria and specifically described the socio-economic characteristics of tomato farmers in Benue State, Nigeria, identified the post-harvest management practices, identified the sources of information on post-harvest management practice, ascertained the extent of utilization of post-harvest management practices, ascertained costliness of utilizing the post-harvest management practice, ascertained the effectiveness in utilization of post-harvest practices of tomatoes. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select a sample size of one hundred and eighty farmers for the study. Data were collected through questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics such as multiples regression analysis and z-test. Results showed farmers mean age of 33 years, mean years of schooling of 12 years, mean household size of 5 persons, mean farm size of 0.6ha and mean annual income of N235,166. Result also showed that the farmers’ sources of information were mainly neighbors (81.7%), family members (81.7%), and fellow farmers (81.1%).  From the result, the foremost postharvest management practices used by the tomato farmers were storage in wooden crates or woven cane baskets ( = 3.35), and storage on the floor ( = 2.60). Relatively, there was low utilization of the post-harvest practices since the grand mean of traditional (  =2.09) and modern ( = 1.54) were below the decision rule.  Furthermore, results of effectiveness of tomato post management practices revealed that storage in wooden crates or woven cane baskets (  = 2.24), storage on the floor (x̄ = 2.20) and cool storage under tree shades, thatch, among others (  = 2.10) were most effective post-harvest management practices of tomatoes with a grand mean of (   = 2.18). The result of the study further showed that the major constraints associated with the use of post-harvest management practices of tomatoes were pests and rodents attack (  = 3.08), cost of labour is high starting from getting materials (  = 3.08) and tomato spoilage is very high (  = 3.08). The result of the regression analysis showed the coefficient of age (0.131), sex (-0.122), education (0.146), extension visit (0.253), cooperative membership (0.541), and farm size (0.319) were significantly related with the  farmers’ utilization of tomatoes post-harvest management practices at 5% significant level. The Z-test result showed a significant difference in the effectiveness of traditional ( =2.1792) and modern ( =1.4361) utilization of post-harvest management practice, with a Z-value of (3.413) thereby rejecting the null hypothesis. This result indicated that, the traditional was more effective than the modern. The study concluded that traditional post-harvest management practices were more effective, most utilized and most beneficial in the study area compare to the modern. The study recommended that government and technology developers should consolidate on farmers’ indigenous knowledge in developing technology for easy acceptability. Also a processing factory should be built where the tomatoes can be processed into paste in order eliminate seasonality of the product or spoilage.

 

 TABLE OF CONTENT

Title Page                                                                                                                    i

Declaration                                                                                                                  ii

Certification                                                                                                                iii

Dedication                                                                                                                  iv

Acknowledgments                                                                                                      v

Table of Contents                                                                                                       vi

List of Tables                                                                                                              viii

List of Figures                                                                                                             ix

Abstract                                                                                                                      x

 

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background of the Study                                                                               1

1.2       Problem Statement                                                                                          5         

1.3       Research Questions                                                                                         7         

1.4       Objectives of the Study                                                                                  8         

1.5       Hypotheses of the Study                                                                                8         

1.6       Significance of the Study                                                                               9         

1.7       Definition of Terms                                                                                        10

                                                                                                                                               

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1   Tomato Production in Nigeria                                                                            11

2.2   Importance of Tomato                                                                                        13       

2.3   Post-harvest Management Practices for Tomato                                     14

2.4   Challenges Confronting the Utilization of Post-Harvest Management            Practices for Tomato                                                                                  15

2.5 Theoretical Framework                                                                                         16

2.5.1 Modernization theory                                                                                        17

2.5.2 Theory of reason action                                                                                     17

2.5.3 Theory of planned behavior                                                                               18

2.5.4 Diffusion of innovation theory                                                                          19

2.5.4.1 Relative advantage                                                                                         21

2.5.4.2 Compatibility                                                                                                  21

2.5.4.3 Complexity                                                                                                     21

2.5.4.4 Triability                                                                                                          21

2.5.4.5 Observability                                                                                                   22

2.6 Review Empirical Studies                                                                                     22

2.7 Conceptual Framework.                                                                                        24                                                                                                                   

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY

3.1       Study Area                                                                                                      27       

3.2       Population of the Study                                                                                  30       

3.3       Sample and Sampling Procedure                                                                    30       

3.4       Data Collection                                                                                               30                                                                                                                                                                   

3.5       Validation of Instrument                                                                                31

3.6       Reliability of Instrument                                                                                 31       

3.7       Measurement of Variables                                                                              32       

3.8       Data Analysis                                                                                                  34       

3.9    Model Specification                                                                                           35                                                                                                                                           

CHAPTER 4   RESULTS AND DISCUSSION                                                                  

4.1 Socio-economic Characteristics of Farmers                                                          40       

4.2 Post-Harvest Management Practices of Tomatoes                                               46

4.3 Sources of Information of Post-Harvest Management Practices of Tomatoes     47

4.4 Extent of Utilization of Post-Harvest Management Practices of Tomatoes         48       

4.5 Costliness of Utilization of Post-Harvest Management Practices of Tomatoes   50       

4.6 Effectiveness of Post-Harvest Management Practices of Tomatoes                    51       

4.7 Factors Affecting the Use of Post-Harvest Management Practices of Tomatoes 53

4.8 Constraints associated with Post-Harvest Management Practices of Tomatoes               in the Study Area.                                                                                         54       

4.9 Hypotheses Testing                                                                                               56

 

CHAPTER 5: SUMMARY, CONCULSION AND RECOMNENDATIONS

5.1   Summary                                                                                                             63       

5.2   Conclusion                                                                                                          67       

5.3   Recommendations                                                                                              67       

References                                                                                                           68

Appendix                                                                                                             74                                                                                                       

 

 

LIST OF TABLES

3.1: Distribution of selected farmers for the study                                                     30

4.1: Distribution of farmers according to their socio-economic characteristics          41       

4.2: Distribution of the farmers on the use of post-harvest management                  practices of tomatoes.                                                                               46       

4.3: Distribution of the farmers according to their sources of information on               post-harvest management practices of tomatoes                                                       47       

4.4: Mean rating of the extent of utilization of post-harvest management                practices of tomatoes                                                                                48                   

4.5: Distribution of the farmers according to perceived costliness of                      utilization on post-harvest management practices.                                          50

4.6: Mean rating of the effectiveness of post-harvest management practices of     tomatoes.                                                                                                 51

4.7:   Mean of farmers’ perceived factors affecting the use of post-harvest      management practices of tomatoes                                                             53

4.8:   Distribution of the farmers according to constraints associated with             utilization of post-harvest management practices of tomatoes                                54       

4.9:   OLS Regression estimates of the relationship between selected                          socio-economic characteristics of            farmers and extent of utilization                  of postharvest management Practices of tomato                                               56

4.10:    Z-test test of significant difference in the extent of utilization of                        post-harvest management practices of tomatoes                                         59       

4.11:  Z-test test of significant difference in effectiveness of post-harvest        management practices of tomatoes in the study area                                             60

4.12: Simple linear regression analysis of the influence of utilization of                       post-harvest management practices of tomatoes has no significant influence           on the income in the study area.                                                                     61

 

                                                                                                                                 

 

 

 

 

LIST OF FIGURES

2.1:  S-Curve representing rapid rate of an innovation over time                               20

2.2: Conceptual framework of utilization of traditional and modern                              post-harvest management practices of tomatoes in Benue State, Nigeria.     26

3.1: Map of Benue State                                                                                             29