Effects of post-harvest losses on Banana Growers in Kibaale District, Western Uganda

In Uganda, banana remain as the major source of food and nutrition security for over 90% of smallholder farmers with an annual output of about 8.9 million metric tons (UBOS & MAAIF, 2017). However, due to banana’s short shelf life which makes it highly vulnerable to postharvest deterioration. However, only scanty information exists on the extent, distribution, and drivers of post-harvest losses in bananas. Yet even without increased productivity but a reduction in post-harvest losses can significantly contribute to fighting against hunger and increase in farm incomes. Therefore a study was conducted to determine the post-harvest losses which affect smallholder farmers in Kibaale district. The specific objectives were to examine the effects of post-harvest losses on growers of bananas; to characterize banana farmers; to identify the causes of post-harvest losses in banana production among smallholder farmers; and to examine the factors that influences the choice of adoption of post-harvest handling technologies by banana farmers. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 62 banana growers from July 2021 to December 2022. Structured questionnaires were used to collect mainly quantitative data from the respondents and the data obtained was analyzed using SPSS version 16.0 statistical package. The results of this study revealed that banana growers adopted the postharvest handling technologies so as to reduce on the postharvest losses mainly at the farm level. The descriptive statistics revealed that the dominant banana-growing farmers were female. The majority of farmers engaged in banana production were also traders dealing in other economic activities. The level of level of education, transportation and the method of harvesting significantly influenced the choice of adoption of post-harvest handling technologies by banana growers. Therefore creating more awareness about the different post-harvest handling techniques and technologies among banana growers is a key strategy in reducing postharvest losses amongst banana growers.