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Asian Journal of Rural Development

Year: 2012 | Volume: 2 | Issue: 1 | Page No.: 13-23
DOI: 10.3923/ajrd.2012.13.23
Assessment of Post Harvest Losses of Some Selected Crops in Eight Local Government Areas of Rivers State, Nigeria
F.F. Olayemi, J.A. Adegbola, E.I. Bamishaiye and E.F. Awagu

Abstract: Nigeria produces a wide range of agricultural produces which are lost at one level or the other at post harvest stage leading to wastage in human effort, farm inputs and investments. The survey was aimed at investigating the level and cause(s) of post harvest losses of some selected produce in eight (8) local government areas which were zoned into three namely A (Degema, Bonny and Port Harcourt), B (Omuma and Oyigbo) and C (Ahoada West and Emohua). A total of four hundred and fifty (450) farmers were randomly selected. Investigative survey research Approach method by means of structured questionnaire was used to collect vital information. The crop production Pattern reveals that Zone A is noted for fish production; Zone B is into more of cassava production while in Zone C, 92% of them farm cassava and 10% are into vegetable farming. Results show that all farmers in Zone C, 65% in A and 11.75% in Zone B do not consult any body on problems associated with food storage. It was also observed generally that the percentage sold is more than processed, stored and consumed at post harvest stage. It reveals that all farmers in all zones use the traditional method of storage for all produce. The mean value of postharvest losses in the zones were 35% for fish, 37.33% for yam, 27.67% for cassava, 20.33% for maize, 27% for plantain and 33% for vegetable. It was therefore, concluded that losses experienced are generally on the high side and needs to be minimized.

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How to cite this article
F.F. Olayemi, J.A. Adegbola, E.I. Bamishaiye and E.F. Awagu, 2012. Assessment of Post Harvest Losses of Some Selected Crops in Eight Local Government Areas of Rivers State, Nigeria. Asian Journal of Rural Development, 2: 13-23.

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