Title: Assessment of postharvest losses and marketing of onion in Ethiopia

Authors: Bezabih Emana; Victor Afari-Sefa; Dereje Kebede; Ngoni Nenguwo; Amsalu Ayana; Hedija Mohammed

Addresses: HEDBEZ Business and Consultancy PLC, P.O. Box 15805, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia ' World Vegetable Center, West and Central Africa – Coastal and Humid Regions, BP 0932 Tri Postal, Cotonou, Benin ' HEDBEZ Business and Consultancy PLC, P.O. Box 15805, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia ' World Vegetable Center, Eastern and Southern Africa, P.O. Box 10 Duluti, Arusha, Tanzania ' Programme Management Unit, Integrated Seed System Development Ethiopia Program, P.O. Box 15805, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia ' HEDBEZ Business and Consultancy PLC, P.O. Box 15805, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract: This study was designed to provide empirical information on postharvest losses of onion in Bora and Dugda districts in Oromia, Ethiopia. A total of 155 producers and 56 traders were surveyed to collect primary data including quantitative measurement of losses. The results revealed that younger male farmers are the major producers as they may be more successful in establishing good market linkages and more willing to take risk than older farmers. Over 97% of the harvested onion is meant for sales implying that the crop is commercially driven. Over 30% postharvest losses were registered mainly because of poor cultural practices and disease attack during production and harvesting as well as poor handling practices, storage and transport. The postharvest losses resulted in a 61% reduction of producers' price (income) during the wet season. Skills building interventions are crucial to improve pre-harvest crop management and postharvest handling practices.

Keywords: onion; postharvest loss; Ethiopia; value chain; marketing.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPTI.2017.092466

International Journal of Postharvest Technology and Innovation, 2017 Vol.5 No.4, pp.300 - 319

Accepted: 15 Nov 2017
Published online: 21 Jun 2018 *

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