Challenge
Discover causes of Post Harvest Loss in tomato production and provide recommendations to help reduce tomato deficit and loss in Nigeria
Nigeria is Africa’s second largest producer of tomatoes, yet the country still stands at a deficit, as loss occurs when tomatoes are transported from farm to market and even to table at times. Rockefeller and Pyxera Global have embarked on a multiyear project to help reduce this loss significantly and increase the tomato farmers’ livelihoods as well as the country’s nutritional and economic status.
DODO was tasked with understanding how loss occurred as tomatoes were handled from farm to market, and to come up with recommendations & solutions to curb these losses.
Achievement
Recommendations given on how to handle Post Harvest loss in areas of handling and transporting tomatoes. Many of this recommendations are being implemented
For Nigeria, a country that is a huge user and producer of tomatoes, studying the entire value chain was quite an interesting process that encompassed 5 states.
We began by studying the different parts of the tomato value chain, from before product to consumption. From farm to table, we looked at key areas where loss occurred and the factors that were at play.
We studied farmers, sellers, basket makers, truck drivers, Government & Non-Governmental organisations that played a part in the value chain.
What We Found Out
Raffia baskets, used to transport the tomato fruits around Nigeria, were a huge factor
In undergoing an in-depth study, we were able to deeply understand the entire tomato value chain, uncover the major causes of loss and give recommendations to curb them.
Raffia baskets, the primary mechanism of transporting tomatoes was one of the main causes of loss. Addressing the context in which they travelled, the way they were built and the manner in which users handled them in transporting tomatoes was key in devising a way forward.
A small-holder farmer’s process from farm to market. Small scale farmers who can’t afford mid-sized trucks to transport their goods to market, transport one basket at a time through motor-bikes. This process as well as the roughness of handling medium baskets, cause some amount of damage before his goods even get to the market.
Data Gathering & Analysis
A simple breakdown of the entire tomato value-chain as our research showed
Highlight of handling from farm to market showing loss in each section
Data Analysis