An Assessment of Onion Post Harvest Loss in Desert Prone Front Line Area of Kano State Nigeria

Abstract

Most of the farmers in Kura local government area bring onions directly to the market after harvest as proper storage facilities are not available with them. It is against this, farmers usually unload their entire stock within a month of harvest, during which prices are very low thereby making them to be at the last receiving end. The objective of this research is to identify the causes of onions post-harvest losses, indigenous technologies used for Onion storage and to design and develop natural ventilated Onion storage structured model using local resources. Mixed methods were employed through the use of a structured questionnaire encompassing both open and closeended questions as well interview. The population of the study consist of the Onion farmers in the three (3) major onion production communities at which 254 farmers were selected. The study reveals that the most constraining factor with almost 75% is inadequate storage facilities. It also disclosed that the present storage structure is hanging method, spreading on the floor mud and traditional silos (Rumbu). It was concluded that natural ventilated onion storage structure (Makani model) should be developed in order to provide good ventilated condition which will reduce the rotting losses. Therefore, the study recommends that government and private organization should assist the cultivars with modern onion storage facilities to avoid further post-harvest loss.