EFFECT OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS ON POSTHARVEST LOSSES AMONG SWEET ORANGE MARKETERS IN BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examined the effect of socio-economic characteristics on postharvest losses among sweet orange marketers in Benue State, Nigeria. Survey research design was adopted. Multistage sampling technique was used to randomly select 280 marketers of sweet orange. Primary data for the study were obtained the aid of questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze data, respectively. Findings showed that average quantity of sweet orange purchased was 206.93, while the average quantity loss was 37.75 50 kg bag equivalence, putting average percentage postharvest loss at 18.24%, and translating to an average revenue loss of N186,404.22. With the semi-log functional form as the lead equation, the t-ratio of years spent in school (7.481), membership of cooperative society (0.182), age (-6.00) and orange marketing experience (-20.374) were statistically significant (p< 0.05). Further, the F-statistics (2970.457) was statistically significant (p < 0.01) and the R² (0.987) of the model was high. Furthermore, age and orange marketing experience decrease the magnitude of postharvest losses. On the other hand, formal education and membership of cooperative society were inversely related to the magnitude of postharvest losses. It was concluded that the level of postharvest of sweet orange among the marketers translates to substantial loss in revenue since their scale of operation is low and there is no compensation for the losses. It was recommended that the age and marketing experience should be considered for any form of intervention in the management of postharvest losses among sweet orange marketers.