Evaluation of Post-Harvest Handling Practices and Losses in Tomato Supply Chains in Kano State

This study evaluates post-harvest handling practices and quantifies losses along the tomato supply chain from farm to market in Kano State, North West Nigeria. Tomato is one of Nigeria's most important vegetable crops, yet post-harvest losses in tomato supply chains are among the highest of any fresh commodity, estimated at 40 to 60 percent nationally. Kano State's position as a major tomato production and redistribution hub makes it a critical site for supply chain loss assessment. This study traces the tomato supply chain through five stages: farm harvest, farm storage, transportation to Dawanau market, wholesale handling, and retail display. At each stage, 50 kilogram samples are drawn from 30 supply chain actors and physical losses are measured over 72 hours. Qualitative surveys of 120 supply chain participants document handling practices, infrastructure constraints, and temperature management. Findings reveal that total chain losses average 48 percent of initial farm output over the study period, with farm storage and transportation stages contributing the highest loss rates of 18 and 15 percent respectively. Mechanical damage from inappropriate packaging, absence of cold chain infrastructure, and long transport durations in unventilated vehicles are the primary loss drivers. The study concludes that supply chain losses impose enormous economic and food security costs in Kano State's tomato sector. It recommends adoption of reusable plastic crates, shade structures at collection points, and rapid transport scheduling as immediately implementable loss reduction measures.

Keywords: post-harvest losses, tomato supply chain, Kano State, cold chain, vegetable handling.