Adoption of postharvest innovations to minimize tomato losses in Nigeria
Abstract Postharvest loss (PHL) remains a critical challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Nigeria, where it exacerbates food insecurity and economic vulnerabilities. This study investigates the adoption of postharvest packaging technologies (PHPTs), focusing on reusable plastic crates (RPC...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-15618-0 |
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| author | Mesay Yami Lenis Saweda O. Liverpool-Tasie Ibukun Olaoye Tesfamicheal Wossen Shiferaw Feleke Tahirou Abdoulaye |
| author_facet | Mesay Yami Lenis Saweda O. Liverpool-Tasie Ibukun Olaoye Tesfamicheal Wossen Shiferaw Feleke Tahirou Abdoulaye |
| author_sort | Mesay Yami |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Postharvest loss (PHL) remains a critical challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Nigeria, where it exacerbates food insecurity and economic vulnerabilities. This study investigates the adoption of postharvest packaging technologies (PHPTs), focusing on reusable plastic crates (RPCs) for tomato harvesting and marketing, and examines farmers’ adoption decisions with market channel choices. Using a dataset of 1,704 tomato farmers, we address the potential endogeneity between RPCs adoption and the choice of market channels through a recursive bivariate probit model. The findings indicate that farmers engaged in long-distance sales are more likely to adopt RPCs, motivated by the potential for higher price premiums and reduced losses during transit. However, there are significant barriers to RPCs’ adoption, including high acquisition costs and limited availability in rural areas. The study findings also underscore the importance of irrigation practices, membership in farmers’ associations, and proximity to major output markets as key drivers of RPCs’ uptake. These insights are critical for informing targeted interventions to improve access to and adoption of PHPTs, thereby reducing PHL and strengthening the resilience of smallholder tomato farmers in Nigeria. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3c1e1608a5ff4e9db65dbb1497fe6c36 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-3c1e1608a5ff4e9db65dbb1497fe6c362025-08-24T11:31:01ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111610.1038/s41598-025-15618-0Adoption of postharvest innovations to minimize tomato losses in NigeriaMesay Yami0Lenis Saweda O. Liverpool-Tasie1Ibukun Olaoye2Tesfamicheal Wossen3Shiferaw Feleke4Tahirou Abdoulaye5International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)IITAIITAIIITAAbstract Postharvest loss (PHL) remains a critical challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Nigeria, where it exacerbates food insecurity and economic vulnerabilities. This study investigates the adoption of postharvest packaging technologies (PHPTs), focusing on reusable plastic crates (RPCs) for tomato harvesting and marketing, and examines farmers’ adoption decisions with market channel choices. Using a dataset of 1,704 tomato farmers, we address the potential endogeneity between RPCs adoption and the choice of market channels through a recursive bivariate probit model. The findings indicate that farmers engaged in long-distance sales are more likely to adopt RPCs, motivated by the potential for higher price premiums and reduced losses during transit. However, there are significant barriers to RPCs’ adoption, including high acquisition costs and limited availability in rural areas. The study findings also underscore the importance of irrigation practices, membership in farmers’ associations, and proximity to major output markets as key drivers of RPCs’ uptake. These insights are critical for informing targeted interventions to improve access to and adoption of PHPTs, thereby reducing PHL and strengthening the resilience of smallholder tomato farmers in Nigeria.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-15618-0Postharvest technologyFood lossReusable plastic crates (RPCs)Market channelEndogeneity |
| spellingShingle | Mesay Yami Lenis Saweda O. Liverpool-Tasie Ibukun Olaoye Tesfamicheal Wossen Shiferaw Feleke Tahirou Abdoulaye Adoption of postharvest innovations to minimize tomato losses in Nigeria Scientific Reports Postharvest technology Food loss Reusable plastic crates (RPCs) Market channel Endogeneity |
| title | Adoption of postharvest innovations to minimize tomato losses in Nigeria |
| title_full | Adoption of postharvest innovations to minimize tomato losses in Nigeria |
| title_fullStr | Adoption of postharvest innovations to minimize tomato losses in Nigeria |
| title_full_unstemmed | Adoption of postharvest innovations to minimize tomato losses in Nigeria |
| title_short | Adoption of postharvest innovations to minimize tomato losses in Nigeria |
| title_sort | adoption of postharvest innovations to minimize tomato losses in nigeria |
| topic | Postharvest technology Food loss Reusable plastic crates (RPCs) Market channel Endogeneity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-15618-0 |
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