POST-HARVEST HANDLING PRACTICES AMONG SELECTED FRUIT AND VEGETABLE MARKETERS IN IBADAN, NIGERIA

Inappropriate handling of fruits and vegetables at retail level brings about physical injury and internal bruising which cause spoilage and wastage in most markets. This study examined existing handling practices among fruit and vegetable marketers in Oyo State. Two major markets (Shasha and Oje) in Ibadan were purposively sampled due to volume of trade in the commodities. A total of 206 respondents were sampled, data were collected with questionnaire and subjected to descriptive statistics. Greater proportion (83%) were males and wholesalers (81.0%). Major fruits marketed were pineapple (18.90%), plantain (15.50%), banana (15.00%), orange (14.60%) and African star apple (14.10%). Common fruit vegetables sold were bell pepper (38.30%), tomato (24.80%) and onion (24.30%). Only 14.90% sold leafy vegetables such as Corchorus olitorius, Celosia, Amaranthus and Telfairia. Most (52.40%) respondents were aware of modern packaging materials but mostly (62.50%) use raffia baskets. Majority neither washed fruits (93.70%) nor vegetables (98.10%) nor had access to water (65.50%). Majority (80.60%) had not attended training on fruit and vegetable (78.60%) handling. Preferred display materials for produce include flat metallic plate (29.31%) and raffia palm basket trays. Few respondents were involved in loading into bags (23.63%) and vehicles (15.61%). High transportation cost was the major constraint in fruit (27.20%) and vegetable (35.50%) marketing coupled with improper handling (17.60%), inadequate storage facilities (16.50%) and perishability of produce (16%). Continuous training and enlightenment campaigns on handling practices and use of modern packaging materials for fruit and vegetable marketers are recommended to alleviate the challenge of post-harvest losses.