POST-HARVEST LOSSES OF FRUITS AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE ECONOMIC WELLBEING OF FARMERS IN USHONGU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BENUE STATE

Abstract

Fruits production has become an economic venture in recent times within the developing nations though not without challenges. This study was focussed on post-harvest losses of oranges as its affects the income of famers. The objectives include: to examine the size of Orchards obtainable in the study area, average prices of arrange per bag, quantity produced per year, average income realised per year, amount of post-harvest losses of Oranges in the study area, the various ways in which post-harvest lossesare incurred, the implication of post-harvest losses of Oranges on the income of the rural people, and ways through which the post-harvest lossesof Oranges can be controlled in the study area. The conflict capitalist theory was applied while the population of the study was owners of Orange orchards in the study area, within which a sample of 150 farmers was chosen using stratified purposive sampling. Structured interview and in-depth interview were used to collect data which was analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively. Findings revealed that, 40% of the  farmers harvest an average of 201 to 300 bags of Oranges per year, while 43% of the  farmers lose between 1 and 20 bags of Oranges per year through activities of insects, untimely disposer occasioned by poor pricing, lack of Orangestorage facilities and mar-handling of the Oranges in the process of harvesting. This affects the income of the farmers and their economic wellbeing. It was suggested among others things that, juice industries be set up in the community to utilize the much produced Oranges that get wasted every year, as this will also improve the income of  farmers.