Articles
POST HARVEST QUALITY OF TROPICAL ORGANIC FRUIT IN OGUN STATE NIGERIA
Article number
873_36
Pages
317 – 320
Language
English
Abstract
Between January and September 2006, a study was conducted in Ogun State south-western Nigeria to document the post harvest handling of non-certified organic fruit.
A second phase of the study documented the quality and characteristics of organic tropical fruit after arrival in the UK by interviewing importers, retailers and consumers.
Although the fruit monitored in the UK was not from Nigeria, the two phases together gave a good indication of the post harvest qualities of tropical organic fruit from farmer to UK consumer.
The major fruits traded in Nigeria were orange, banana, mango, pineapple, papaya, guava and avocado.
Major operational constraints listed by farmers and fruit vendors included pest and disease infection from the field and in transit, poor market access and mechanical damage during harvesting and bulking.
In contrast, the international transport of organic fruits, transport within the UK, storage and display by retailers and shelf life in consumers homes were all satisfactory with no major differences found between organic and conventional fruit.
Thus, the weak link in the post harvest chain from farmer to consumer occurs in the producing country.
This suggests that a required critical intervention to allow Nigerian farmers access to the UK organic fruit market is investment in post harvest handling.
A second phase of the study documented the quality and characteristics of organic tropical fruit after arrival in the UK by interviewing importers, retailers and consumers.
Although the fruit monitored in the UK was not from Nigeria, the two phases together gave a good indication of the post harvest qualities of tropical organic fruit from farmer to UK consumer.
The major fruits traded in Nigeria were orange, banana, mango, pineapple, papaya, guava and avocado.
Major operational constraints listed by farmers and fruit vendors included pest and disease infection from the field and in transit, poor market access and mechanical damage during harvesting and bulking.
In contrast, the international transport of organic fruits, transport within the UK, storage and display by retailers and shelf life in consumers homes were all satisfactory with no major differences found between organic and conventional fruit.
Thus, the weak link in the post harvest chain from farmer to consumer occurs in the producing country.
This suggests that a required critical intervention to allow Nigerian farmers access to the UK organic fruit market is investment in post harvest handling.
Publication
Authors
P.J.C. Harris, O. Oke, T.I. Olabiyi, I.O.O. Aiyelaagbe
Keywords
Nigeria, organic fruit, post harvest quality
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