Analysis of post-harvest losses of banana and the economic wellbeing of farmers in Boyo Division, North West Region of Cameroon

Abstract

Post-harvest losses of banana affect the economic wellbeing of farmers in Africa especially in Boyo Division in the North West region of Cameroon where majority of the producers are smallholders’ farmers. The study analysed post-harvest losses of banana and its effect on the economic wellbeing of farmers in Boyo Division. Three hundred and eighty respondents were selected from three out of four sub-divisions in Boyo Division using a multi-stage sampling procedure. Data was obtained from the respondents with the aid of questionnaire and focus group discussions. The data obtained was analysed using descriptive statistics. The results revealed that 61,055 bunches of banana were harvested, 21,107 bunches sold, 16,751 bunches used by farmers’ households while 23,197 bunches were lost at post-harvest stages in 2019/2020. This quantity lost was suffered at the farm level, transportation, storage, ripening, processing and sale stages with most losses (11-20) suffered at the farm level. The study further revealed that farmers expected an estimated net amount of 10,570,036 FCFA while an estimated net amount of 2,213,759 FCFA was achieved with post-harvest losses. The study therefore, concludes that post–harvest losses of banana have a positive correlation on farmers’ economic wellbeing and recommends sensitization and training of farmers on post-harvest management techniques.

Pre-harvest Losses of Musa spp. and Food Security Situation of Households in Sub-Sahara Africa

“…These losses begin with site/seedlings/sucker selection and ends when harvesting begins. In a study on banana losses conducted in Cameroon by Nkwain [17], farmers insisted that pre-harvest losses pose a higher effect on their social wellbeing most especially food availability. Chief among their rationale was that strong wind, pest and diseases as well as fire devastate their crops living them with little or nothing to harvest and consume on daily, weekly and monthly bases hence, threaten their food security status.…”

“…Reports showed that Fusarium wilt, a disease that is predominant in Gros Michel banana varieties affect banana plants in Cameroon, Nigeria, Rwanda and Burundi causing the dryingoff of the leaves starting from the older ones to the shoot and eventually the whole plant [17,34]. Once a plant is affected with this disease, the leaves turn yellow and collapses.…”

“…In Central Africa, according to Nkwain [17], in 2019 and 2020, bush fire, hailstones and storm reduces the quantity of banana bunches harvested by 31.6% in Boyo Division in the North West Region of Cameroon. This resulted to food insufficiency to 81% of the producing households.…”

“…It was equally exchange for other food crops not produce by the farmers' households in order to balance their diet. All these practices drastically reduce because of the drop in the quality and quantity of banana produced [17].…”

“…This, in addition to the losses recorded by other producing countries reduce yields and render millions of people who depend on banana or banana and plantain products food insecure in the continent. In 2019/2020, 81% of banana producing households in Boyo Division in Cameroon were food insecure because of preharvest losses of bananas [17]. Meanwhile in Tanzania, the food situation of 38.3% of the producing households was reported bad while 53.8% was very bad [18].…”