CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Crop losses should be given prime concern so as to improve food security, increase farmer‟s income, and stop hunger especially in developing countries (FAO, 2010). This is as a result of the unfavourable effect crop losses has on the environment, economic development, and food quality. Globally, about 1.3 billion tonnes of food is lost every year. Water, land, managerial expertise, labour, and other inputs that could have been directed towards productive areas are all wasted because of crop losses (FAO, 2011).About 40% to 50% of vegetable crops produced are lost before are lost by they are consumed and this is caused by bruises, pest and disease attack, and rot (Kitinoja, 2002, Ray & Ravi, 2005).
Furthermore, 30% to 40% crop losses of are normally recorded after harvest and this is caused by factors such mechanical injuries, pest and disease attack, and rot due to microbial infection or excess heat (Meena et al., 2009). Postharvest losses have therefore been considered to be one of the factors that influence food shortages in developing countries.
Postharvest loss has been a critical issue on food availability in Ghana (Babalola et al., 2010). As more agricultural produce are being transported from producing areas to non-producing locations and storing for longer period of time, postharvest loss prevention technology methods are needed (Oyekanmi, 2007). In spite of development made to increase food production globally, access to adequate food becomes a problem for the population in the third world. Food loss is one of the reasons that occurs in the postharvest and marketing structure. Reducing loss as well
as increasing food production can improve food supply.
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), which belongs to the family Solanaceae is extensively grown and consumed staple vegetable fruit in the world, and it is a good source of nutrients such as minerals and vitamins in food consumed by humans (Nasrinet al., 2008, & Babalola et al., 2010). According to Van der Hoeven et al.(2002), Solanaceae is the third main economically crop family after cereals and legumes and it is the most worthy in terms of vegetable crops and agricultural utility. FAO (1995) reported that tomato is a relevant cash crop in many countries it is ranked third after potato and sweet potato. The tomato fruit is an important “protective food” since it is classified as a vegetable in trade (Alam et al., 2007). Tomatoes form a very significant part of human food especially in areas where it is eaten (Beecher, 1998). Tomato forms part of food consumed in Ghana and it is an important ingredient in Ghanaian dishes (Tambo & Gbemu, 2010; Osei et al., 2014).
Tomato production over the past few decades was envisaged as one of the key drivers of both rural and urban areas in Ghana through job creation and poverty alleviation (Asare-Bediako et al., 2007; Sugri et al., 2013). Following Sugri et al. (2013), tomato production in the Upper East Region is noted as an antidote for the widespread unemployment and poverty for the majority of households. In general, food loss does not only reduce the quantity of food produced, but reduces availability, the saleability of wholesome food as well as the accessibility of the food and the effect of these losses impacts greatly on farm income at different locations. Insight of this, Sablani et al. (2006) indicated that food availability increases when there has been a reduction in fresh produce and significant in sustaining agriculture.
Food loss occurs along the value chain and it is caused by bad infrastructure and poor management. Food losses constitute both qualitative loss and quantitative loss (Egyir et al., 2008). Total post-harvest losses occur when produce is being distributed from the farm to the market centres (Aulakh et al., 2013). Qualitative loss constitute losses in the nutrient make-up, acceptability by consumers, and the edibility of a fresh produce forms the qualitative loss. These losses are normally experienced in developed countries (Kader, 2002). Quantitative loss is a loss in terms of reduction in volume and weight of a product. Quantitative loss has been a major problem in developing countries (Kitinoja et a.l, 2011). FAO (2013) reported that globally, loss in food quantity and unwanted food in developed countries are experienced more in downstream stages of the food chain, but lower in developing countries where more food is lost and wasted in upstream stages.
Producers face problems with the supply of vegetable fruits such as tomato to market centres due to the perishability nature of these produce. Longer distances between the farm gate and the assembling markets and the postharvest technology management such as grading, packaging, storage, and transportation result in a larger proportion of fruit being lost at the various phases of the postharvest chain. Alidu et al. (2016) in their study reported that lack of technical support, poor market structures, poor handling of produce by farmers and other actors, bad road infrastructure, market intermediaries and consumers causes postharvest losses of vegetables.
Postharvest activities such as postharvest handling and storage practices affect the nutritional value of fresh tomatoes (Addo et al., 2015).The growth cycle of tomatoes ends at the harvesting stage but begins with a chain of important activities that make sure that consumers acquire vegetables in the preferred state.
Maturation, ripening, and senescence are three clear-cut phases in the life span of vegetables and fruits that have been differentiated by postharvest physiologist. Maturation denotes fruit being ready for harvest (Arah et al., 2015). Matured tomatoes are usually harvested when the plant is fresh and has high moisture content. Tomato farmers and traders in the tropics are confronted with special problems in handling, transportation, and marketing due to the perishability nature of the produce precisely. The storage life of fresh vegetables such as tomatoes depends on the good harvesting practices such harvesting quality ones (Hurst, 2010, & Kitinoja & Gorny, 2009). Fresh tomatoes easily damages and have short storage life if harvested in a fully ripened state. They reported that about 20% to 50% postharvest losses in developing countries are caused by losses on the farm, during transportation, and at sales points. Kitinoja and Kasmire (2002) reported that in developed countries, about 5% to 25% of fruits and vegetables are lost due to postharvest and about 20-50% in developing countries depending on the produce. About 30-40% postharvest loss in vegetables was attributed to inadequate postharvest handling, lack of infrastructure, lack of processing factories, lack of ready market and unavailable storage facilities (Kulanthai et al., 2006).
In Ghana, tomato is considered as one of the essential vegetables in terms of cultivation, marketing, and utilization (Nkansah et al., 2003). According Aryeetey (2006), 25,000 tonnes of tomato paste is consumed in Ghana at a cost of $25 million, eventually making Ghana the second largest importer of tomato paste.
Problem Statement of the Study
In the agricultural sector of Ghana, lack of ready market, poor pricing, production seasonality, the dependence on rainfed agriculture, putrescible nature of vegetable,
and unavailable processing factories to process vegetables into other forms are some problems faced by farmers (Robinson & Kolavali, 2010). Therefore, decreasing food losses reduces food importation, increases food availability, and improves the welfare of tomato producers (Adesina, 2012).
Little effort has been done to minimize post-harvest losses of vegetables such as tomato while many resources have been channelled into the planting of vegetables, irrigation, fertilizer application and crop protection measures (Ayandiji et al., 2011).Therefore, increase in food availability, reduction in food importation, and the improvement of the welfare of the farmer is as a result of reduction in post-harvest food losses (Adepoju, 2014).
