ROLE OF EXTENSION SERVICES ON POST HARVEST LOSSES AMONG WOMEN TOMATO FARMERS IN PANKSHIN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

The study assessed the role of agricultural extension on post-harvest losses among women tomato farmers in Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau State. A multistage random sampling technique was employed in selecting 399 Women tomato farmers for the study. Primary data were obtained using structured questionnaires. 399 questionnaires were distributed and 340 were retrieved and used for the study. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that 64.7% of the Women tomato farmers were in their active age of production and 70.3% were married with 5-9 persons per households in the study area. The results also showed that 87.9% of the Women tomato farmers had attended formal education and 12.1% attended non-formal education, while 83.2% of the respondents had 1-10 years of farming experience. The results further showed that 66.2% of the Women tomato farmers practiced mixed cropping and 67.4% had no access to credit in the study area. The findings further showed that, 25.6%, 24.4% and 20.3% of the Women Tomato farmers indicated that storage, processing and packaging respectively were the major factors that causes tomato post-harvest lost. The result also revealed that 75.3% of the Women Tomato farmers received advisory services from the extension agencies while 45.6% and 36.8% of the women tomato farmers had their information on post-harvest losses from radio and agricultural shows respectively. The findings also revealed that household size (P<0.001), quantity harvested (P<0.001), farm size (P<0.05) and farming experience (P<0.05) had significant influence on the Women tomato farmers post-harvest losses in the study area. The findings further revealed that 59.1% of the Women tomato farmers had no extension contacts. It can be concluded that the availability of cheap family labour in producing large quantity of tomatoes without adequate storage facilities and processing are the factors influencing post-harvest losses among women tomato farmers in the study Area. Emanating from the findings it is recommended that women tomato farmer should form cooperative so as to increase their access to storage facilities and inputs at lower rate. Government should employ and deploy more trained extension personnel to the study Area.