Post-Harvest Technology Adoption and Its Effect on Tomato Losses Among Smallholder Farmers in Kano State

Tomato post-harvest losses in Nigeria exceed 40 percent annually, creating significant income losses for smallholder farmers and contributing to food insecurity. Kano State, a major tomato producing state in the North West zone, has been a focal point for post-harvest technology promotion programmes, yet adoption rates remain below expectations. This study examined the adoption of post-harvest technologies including evaporative coolers, hermetic crates, wax coating, and zero-energy cool chambers among 160 smallholder tomato farmers in three local government areas of Kano State. A mixed-methods approach combining structured questionnaires and focus group discussions was employed. Adoption status, influencing factors, and observed impact on post-harvest loss were assessed. Results showed overall technology adoption at 27 percent, with evaporative coolers being the most adopted (18 percent). Factors significantly associated with adoption included membership of farmer cooperative societies, access to extension services, and prior participation in National Agricultural Development Fund-supported training. Adopters reported significantly lower post-harvest losses of 18.4 percent compared to 38.6 percent among non-adopters. Economic barriers and limited access to technology inputs were the primary adoption constraints. The study recommends strengthening cooperative extension linkages, establishing subsidised technology input supply chains, and integrating post-harvest modules into existing agricultural finance schemes targeting tomato farmers in Kano State. Keywords: post-harvest technology, tomato, adoption, smallholder farmers, Kano.