Assessment of Tomato Marketing and Post-harvest Handling Constraints Among Smallholders along River Yobe Basing Area of Geidam/Bursary Local Governments Area of Yobe State Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed tomato marketing structures and post-harvest handling constraints among smallholder farmers in Geidam and Bursary Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Yobe State, Nigeria. A mixed-methods cross-sectional survey design was employed, combining purposive and stratified random sampling of 200 smallholder households with trader surveys, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, loss quantification techniques, marketing margin analysis, and regression models to identify determinants of farm-gate prices and losses. Findings indicate that post-harvest losses range between 20% and 45% along the farm-to-market chain, with the highest losses occurring during transport and at open markets due to poor packaging, inadequate storage, and long handling times. The study concludes that interventions such as improved packaging (plastic crates), farmer aggregation centers, low-cost evaporative cooling technologies, digital price information platforms, and strengthened farmer cooperatives can significantly reduce losses and enhance producer margins. Policy actions focused on rural infrastructure, credit access, and inclusive farmer support are recommended to sustain productivity and improve livelihoods. These findings contribute to the evidence base on tomato value chain development in northern Nigeria and provide a framework for designing context-specific interventions to reduce losses, improve efficiency, and strengthen food and income securityThis study assessed tomato marketing structures and post-harvest handling constraints among smallholder farmers in Geidam and Bursary Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Yobe State, Nigeria. A mixed-methods cross-sectional survey design was employed, combining purposive and stratified random sampling of 200 smallholder households with trader surveys, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, loss quantification techniques, marketing margin analysis, and regression models to identify determinants of farm-gate prices and losses. Findings indicate that post-harvest losses range between 20% and 45% along the farm-to-market chain, with the highest losses occurring during transport and at open markets due to poor packaging, inadequate storage, and long handling times. The study concludes that interventions such as improved packaging (plastic crates), farmer aggregation centers, low-cost evaporative cooling technologies, digital price information platforms, and strengthened farmer cooperatives can significantly reduce losses and enhance producer margins. Policy actions focused on rural infrastructure, credit access, and inclusive farmer support are recommended to sustain productivity and improve livelihoods. These findings contribute to the evidence base on tomato value chain development in northern Nigeria and provide a framework for designing context-specific interventions to reduce losses, improve efficiency, and strengthen food and income security