Effect of organic preservatives on postharvest shelf life and quality of tomato fruits during storage was carried out. Healthy tomato fruits of three varieties Roma, Riogrande and UTC were obtained from the experimental farm at breaker stage. They were coated with Moringa, Neem and bitterleaf powders and stored at room temperature. Variety 3 (V3) produced significantly higher beta carotene content (0.182) than variety 1 (V1) (0.135) and variety 2 (V2) (0.127) on days 1 and 17 (0.205), (0.153) and (0.124). V2 produced significantly higher beta carotene value on days 21 (0.191) and 25 (0.233). Bitterleaf produced significantly higher beta -carotene content on days 1 (0.209), 5 (0.259) and 25 (0.191). No significant difference in firmness was observed within the varieties across the days. Moringa produced the lowest firmness value (2.917) on day 5 while control gave the lowest firmness value on days 13 (2.349), 17 (2.006), 21(1.273) and 25 (0.326). The highest lycopene content among the varieties was produced by V2 on day 21 (0.055) and V3 Original Research Article

Isolation, identification and pathogenicity of fungal organisms causing postharvest spoilage of tomato fruits during storage was carried out. Tomato fruits showing symptoms of rot were collected from the store house. Small sizes were cut and surface sterilized in 1% of Sodium hydrochloride and rinsed in several changes of sterile distilled water. They were plated on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) and observed for fungal growth. Identification was done macroscopically and microscopically. For pathogenicity, healthy tomato fruits were plugged with pure cultures of the fungal isolates and disease incidence and severity were evaluated. Five fungi namely Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium waksmanii, Botryodiplodia theobromae, Fusarium oxysporum and Colletotrichum asianum were isolated. Incidence of decay on healthy tomato fruits Original Research Article

The studies analyzed the causes and measures for controlling loan default among agricultural cooperatives in Benue State of Nigeria. Data were collected from 130 respondents using structured questionnaire, and was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The result shows that factors responsible for loan default were classified into Institutional, Client-related, Geo-economical, and Market related factors. Late disbursement of (92.31%), lack of loan monitoring (76.92%), inadequate loan appraisals (69.23%), and lack of clear cut policy on lending (69.23) were the institutional factors responsible for loan default. Lack of integrity (80.77%), poor business practice (78.46%), and loan diversion (50.0%) were client-related factors. Death of client (70.77%), economic downturn (55.38%), and natural calamity (52.31%) were geo-economic factors, while, lack of market information (81.54%), market location (49.23%) and wrong economic decision (40.77) were market related factors. The result also showed that obtaining information on borrowers' integrity (92.23%), and training of borrowers on the terms and conditions (82.54%) were main measures to control loan default in the study area. Information on client integrity, and training of borrowers on terms and condition of loan before loan are granted were found to be best measures to control loan default. It was recommended that sound and flexible lending policies measures which must be reviewed frequently by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Co-operatives (BAAC) be put in place in order to curtail bureaucracies involved in the management approvals and disbursement of agricultural loan should be formulated. This will ensure early disbursement of funds to co-operative members.

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