Food Security and Post-Harvest Losses In Fruit Marketing In Lagos Metropolis, Nigeria

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1 Discourse Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences ISSN: Vol. 3(3): 52-58, March, 2015 Food Security and Post-Harvest Losses In Fruit Marketing In Lagos Metropolis, Nigeria Busari Ahmed O*, Idris-Adeniyi K.M. and Lawal A.O. Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Osun State University, College of Agriculture, Ejigbo Campus. * for Correspondence: Abstract Post harvest loss has been a bane to food security in Nigeria. Although increased crop yield has been found to be feasible. Post harvest losses especially in fruits such as citrus, banana and pineapple are enormous, the marketing system of these fruits places about 75% of the burden of these losses on the fruit marketers. This study evaluated post harvest losses in fruit marketing in Lagos metropolis of Nigeria. Multi stage sampling technique was used to select one hundred and twenty (120) fruit marketers as the sample for the study. Data were collected from the respondents with structured interview schedule. The findings revealed that majority (72%) of the marketers are between the ages of 30 and 49 years with the highest concentration found in the range of years. The mean age is years. About 50% of the marketers are married 69% of the fruit marketers were female, while 31% are male. Also, 72% of the respondents had primary education, while, 49% of the fruit marketers have a marketing experience of about years. The mean annual income and transportation cost of the fruit marketers were and respectively. Multiple regression analysis results showed that years of formal education, marketing experience, annual income, transportation cost and average cost of fruits were the significant determinants of post harvest losses in fruits marketing. The results of the study indicated that there is high level of post harvest losses among the fruits marketers. Keyword: food, security, Harvest, Fruit, Marketing, Lagos INTRODUCTION Ensuring an adequate food supply has been a major concern of mankind over the millennia, and even in today's modern world of great scientific and technological achievements, diets are inadequate for about five hundred million people all over the world (FAO 2001). A study by Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO,1979) which covered 90 developing countries representing 98% of the population in the developing world (excluding China) reveals that the most striking share of increases in food demand will be caused by expanding world population. By the year 2000, 50% more food was expected to be available to meet present intake levels; yet additional food supplies will be needed by the end of the century to conquer famine and malnutrition. Fruits and vegetables are of great nutritional value. They are important sources of vitamins and minerals, thus, essential components of human diet. They also form a substantial percentage (about 25%) of the major food crops cultivated in the tropics and so it is the source of livelihood for a considerable section of the population (Kra and Bani 1988). Consequent upon this, there had been increased trade and commercial activities surrounding these commodities (Egharevba 1995). Citrus, grapes, and banana represent the three (3) major fruit crops in the world with an annual production averaging 80 million metric tonnes each. (Aubert and Vullin, 1998). This is due to the fact that besides being consumed as fresh produce these fruits are also used in industrial and domestic food processing. Nigeria produces a wide variety of familiar tropical fruits including citrus, mango, paw-paw, guava, pineapple, banana, watermelon and a variety of little-known indigenous African fruits such as the African star apple (Chrysophyllum

2 53 albidum), hog plum (Spondias mombin), native pear (Dacryodes edulis) and African or wild mango (Irvingia gabonensis). The country is a leading producer of pepper (capsicums) and large amounts of tomatoes, plantain, onions, okra and other vegetables are grown in its diverse agro-ecological zones that range from humid in the south to sub-humid in the middle belt and semi-arid/arid in the north. Fresh fruits and vegetables are inherently more liable to deterioration under tropical conditions characterized by high ambient temperatures and humidity, and a high incidence of pests and diseases. Consequently, post harvest losses of fruits and vegetables are extremely high in Nigeria (30-50 %), exacerbated by poor marketing, distribution and storage facilities. The typical marketing system for fruits and vegetables in Nigeria consists of three stages. In the first stage, smallholder farmers offer small surpluses to traders in the village markets or first assembly points. From here the traders move the accumulated produce along the market channel to secondary collection centers. The third stage involves the movement of the produce to central wholesale markets in urban centers. The produce is transported from the farm gate to the primary and secondary collection centers primarily as head loads or by means of farm animals, carts, bicycles, motorbikes and motor vehicles of all sorts and, from there, to urban central wholesale markets mainly in open, nonrefrigerated trucks with capacities ranging from less than 10 t to up to 30 t. (Aworh, 2005). The traditional marketing channels for foods in Nigeria evolved in response to the food production pattern characterized by a large number of peasant farmers with small, often less than one hectare, non-contiguous holdings. Even though the existing marketing channels are grossly inefficient, in terms of the high post harvest losses, they deserve more credit than they are given, when viewed against the backdrop of the available market resources (both physical and financial), and the highly perishable nature of fruits and vegetables. Mechanical damage to produce as a result of impact bruising, compression and vibration during transportation, and poor transport conditions, including bad roads, account for a good part of the post harvest losses of fruits and vegetables in Nigeria. Substantial losses (up to 20%) occurred in fresh tomatoes, pepper and onions transported from the production areas in northern Nigeria (Kano, Kaduna and Sokoto States) to an urban wholesale market in Ibadan in south-western Nigeria. (Aworh, 2011). Attention to the concept of post-harvest food loss reduction as a significant means to increase food availability was drawn by the World Food Conference held in Rome in The 7th Special Session of the U.N. General Assembly in 1975 passed a Resolution calling for a 50 per cent reduction of post-harvest losses by The potential value of post harvest loss reduction has found practical expression in the continuing debate among a number of International Organizations and Institutions. As a result several initiatives at the international level have been taken with the special aim of making a concerted effort to reduce unnecessary losses at all the post-harvest stages of the food production process. Also FAO, after consultation with its Governing bodies, food loss prevention became a priority area and an Action Programme became operational in early Recently, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that 32 percent of all food produced in the world was lost or wasted in 2009 (FAO, 2013). Post harvest loss has been a bane to food security in Nigeria. Even though increased yield has been found to be possible (Arowojolu, 2000). Post harvest losses have prevented the effect of the increase to be felt on the income of the small-scale farmers. Aworh (2004) stated that the post harvest losses of fruits run into billions of Naira annually, while Khang (2003) opined that the losses not only affect output but reduce farmers income all over the world. Post harvest losses are much higher for highly perishable fresh fruits, vegetables than for cereals and other field crops. Fresh commodities have individual requirement with respect to temperature and other factors that must be provided for during the marketing process. Generally, the factors that helps reduce post harvest losses in fresh fruits and vegetable are synonymous with those that affect the maintenance of overall quality (Harvey. 1978). In Nigeria, post harvest losses especially in fruits such as citrus, banana and pine apple are enormous, the marketing system of these fruits places about 75% of the burden of these losses on the fruits marketers. The marketing chain of these fruits involves buying in small quantities from scattered farm holdings and assembling the fruits in bulk for transportation to the urban centers. Since the market margin from marketing of this fruits determines the price and hence the income that will accrue to the farmers, it is therefore pertinent to examine the effect of post harvest losses on fruits marketing. This study evaluated the effect of post harvest losses on fruits marketing in Lagos metropolis of Nigeria. Methodology The study was conducted in Lagos metropolis in southwest of Nigeria. Multi stage sampling technique was used to select the sample for the study. Cluster sampling was used to select three communities, where fruits marketing are prevalent in the metropolis. Simple random sampling technique was used to select one hundred and twenty (120) fruits marketers from the selected communities to make the sample for the study. Data in this study were collected through a structured interview schedule which was administered to the fruits marketers. Information on age, marital status, and years of formal education, fruits marketing experience, annual

3 54 Table 1. Distribution of Fruit Marketers according to their Age Age (years) Frequency Percentage Cumulative percentage income, transportation cost, distance from fruits source, storage system, and average price of fruit and monetary value of fruit loss during fruits marketing were collected. Data in this study was analyzed with both descriptive and inferential statistics. The descriptive statistics that were employed in the study includes means, standard deviation, frequencies and percentages. The inferential statistics that were utilized are multiple regression analysis and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The empirical model that was used in the study is specified as follows: Y=X 1 + X 2 + X 3 + X 4 + X 5 + X 6 + X 7 + X 8 + X 9 Where Y= the monetary value (#) of fruits loss during fruit marketing X 1= age in years X 2= marital status (dummy variable as 1 for single, 2 for married, 3 for widow, and 4 for others) X 3= years of formal education X 4= fruits marketing experience in years X 5= annual income in Naira X 6= transportation cost in Naira X 7=- distance from fruits source in kilometers X 8= storage system (dummy variable as 1 for basket, 2 for sacs, 3 for refrigerator, 4 for saw dust, 5 for others) X 9= average price of fruits. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The study examined the socio-economic characteristics of the fruit marketers. The selected characteristics are age, marital status, gender, years of formal education, and years of fruit marketing experience and annual income of fruit marketers. They are hereby presented. Age Table 1 shows the age distribution of fruit marketers. The table reveals that majority (72%) of the respondents are in the range age of years with the highest concentration (39%)found to be in the range of years. The mean age is years. Marital status Table 2 shows the distribution of fruit marketers according to their marital status. The table indicates that majority (50%) of the fruit marketers are married, while about 33% are single, 6% are widowed and 11% are divorced. Gender of fruit marketers Table 3 presents the gender distribution of the fruit marketers. The table reveals that most (69%) of the marketers are female, others (31%) are male. This result implies that fruit marketing activities are dominated by women.

4 55 Table 2. Distribution of Fruit Marketers according to their marital status Marital status Frequency Percentage Cumulative percentage Single Married Widow Divorced Table 3. Distribution of Fruit Marketers according to their gender. Gender Frequency Percentage Cumulative percentage Male Female Table 4. Distribution of Fruit Marketers according to their years of formal education. Years of education Frequency Percentage Cumulative percentage and above Source: Field Survey Table 5. Distribution of Fruit Marketers according to their years of marketing experience Marketing experience Frequency Percentage Cumulative frequency 1-9 years years years years Years of formal education Data in table 4 indicates that most (72%) of the fruit marketers had primary education, 18% had post primary education, while 10% had post secondary education. This result asserts that most of the fruit marketers are secondary school leavers. Years of fruit marketing experience Table 5 shows that majority (49%) of the marketers had marketing experience in the range of years. 28% of the marketers has a marketing experience of between 1 and 9 years. 11% of the marketers had a marketing experience in the range of years.

5 56 Table 6 shows distribution of fruit marketers according to their annual income. Income ( 000 ) Frequency Percentage Cumulative percentage and above Table 7. Result of Regression Analysis Variable Coefficient Probability X X X * X * X * X ** X X X * C R F statistic *Coefficient significant at 1% level. **Coefficient significant at 5% level. Source: Data Analysis, Annual income Table 6 shows distribution of fruit marketers according to their annual income. The table reveals that majority (39%) of the fruit marketers falls in income category of 300, ,000 yearly. 38% of the fruit marketers earn about 100, ,000 yearly. 18% of the fruit marketers earns about 500, ,000 yearly. 8% of the fruit marketers earns about 700, ,000 yearly, while 5% earn about 900,000 yearly. The mean annual income is 481,550. Result of Regression Analysis The result of regression analysis is presented in Table 8. The coefficient of R 2 and F statistics shows that the model is well fitted. The coefficient of years of formal education (X 3 ) is negative and statistically significant at 1% level. This result suggests that as the level of formal education of fruit marketers increases, post harvest losses in fruit marketing is drastically reduced. Similarly, the coefficient of average price of fruits (X 9 ) is negative and statistically significant at 1% level. This result implies that average price of fruits has a negative influence on the level of post harvest losses, the higher the price of a fruit, the higher the quality and the lower the level of post harvest losses. Equally, coefficient of years of fruit marketing experience (X 9 ) is negative and statistically significant at 1% level. This means that this variable is inversely related to post harvest losses, that is, the higher the marketing experience of the fruit sellers, the lower the level of post harvest losses. Furthermore, the coefficient of transportation cost (X 6 ) has a negative sign and is statistically significant at 5% level. This means that the higher the transportation cost, the lower the post harvest losses. The implication of this is that efficient transportation system will cost more money but, post harvest losses would be reduced. However, coefficient of annual income is positive and statistically significant at 1% level. This signifies that annual income of fruit marketers is directly dependent on their level of post harvest losses.

6 57 Table 8. Result of Regression Analysis Variable Coefficient Probability X X X * X * X * X ** X X X * C R F statistic *Coefficient significant at 1% level. **Coefficient significant at 5% level. Source: Data Analysis, Conclusion Most of the fruit marketers are middle aged women with primary education and this accounted for high post harvest losses among the marketers. Years of marketing experience, transportation cost, annual income of marketers and average price of fruits are strong determinants of post harvest losses among the fruit marketers. Based on the findings of the study, the following policy recommendations are proffered. (1) Extension education should be provided to the fruits marketers especially in area of handling and transportation. (2) The fruits marketers should be organized into cooperative societies which will enhance credit access by the fruit marketers. (3) Adequate space and store should be provided for the fruit marketers, separate market should be organized for them as in developed countries. (4) Government should monitor the quality of fruits sold by the farmers at the farm gate market. References Adegeye AJ and Dittoh JS (1985). Essential of Agricultural Economics Impact Publishers Nigeria Limited, Ibadan. Pp Adekanye TO (1988). Marketing Concept and Definition in Readings in Agricultural Marketing Adekanye T.O. (ed) Longman, Nigeria. Antonio QBO (1968). Marketing of Staple Food Stuff in Nigeria Longman, Nigeria. Arowojulo O (2000). Analysis of Rural Women s use of Cassava Post Harvest Technologies in Oyo state. Msc Project. Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Arshad (2003) An Economic Analysis of the Malaysian Fruit Industry Proceedings of the International Seminar on Post Harvest Handling and Processing of Tropical and Sub-tropical and TF Net General Assembly, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Aubert BVG (1998). Citrus Nursery and Planting Technique (CIRAD), CIRAD, Montpellier, France, pp 183. Aworh OC (2005). After the Harvest (1992/1993 Inaugural Lecture), University of Ibadan Inaugural Lecture, Volume 1, ( ), Ibadan University Press, pp Aworh (2011) science.org Aworh OC (2004) Food Preservation, The art, The Science and The Technology The Post Graduate School, University of Ibadan, Nigeria pp 61. Dahunsi BI (1992). Post Harvest Loss Assessment of Food Crops in Nigeria. A Case Study Plateau State A field Survey Report Submitted as Msc Term Paper in Department of Agricultural Engineering, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Enharevaba, RKA (1995).Post Harvest Physiology of Fruits and Vegetable J.Trop. Post Harvest. 2:51-73.

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