GENDER ANALYSIS OF POSTHARVEST LOSS OF PERISHABLES WITH RESPECT TO FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN TOKE KUTAYE DISTRICT, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The present study aimed to assess the gender analysis of Post-harvest loss of Perishables concerning fruits and vegetables in Toke Kutaye District, Ethiopia. Four kebeles were randomly selected for primary data collection. A cross-sectional-based mixed approach of sampling design was employed for data collection using open and close-ended questionnaires, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. 360 household heads were selected for a questionnaire survey using a systematic random sampling technique. The result showed that onions, potatoes, and tomatoes take up about 41.7% of the total production in the district. About 51.1% of farmers use the local seed variety, and 71.1% do not protect their crops. The majority of the producers (63.9%) sell their produce at the proxy local markets using carts (71.7%), animals’ backs (15%), and human labor (10.6%). About 64.4% of the farmers lost >15% of their total production up to the first market. The highest postharvest loss was claimed in Wajjira (34%) and Imala (28%) Kebeles. About 32.2% of the postharvest loss occurs on the field before harvesting. Diseases, insects, lack of improved variety, poor market network, and limited knowledge of postharvest handling were the major causes (40%) of the postharvest losses. Most of the pre-harvest and postharvest activities were predominantly performed by males. The logistic regression result indicated that accessing training, credit, and stored products were negative to postharvest loss and statistically significant (p<0.05). Accessing land, fertilizer, seed, oxen, equipment, water, benefits, and marketing of the products were positive and significant (p<0.05). In other words, overall control resources were negative, but it was statistically significant only for the controls over fertilizers, seed, water, and storage of the products (p<0.05). The regression also indicated that the decision over using money, freedom to use the money, participation, and negotiating in income generation and household expenses were negative and significant (p<0.05).  The daily clock activities showed that females were 16 hours busy and males were 13 hours busy per day on average. The result also indicated the seasonal-based variation of activity patterns in both sexes; females are more busy than males. This calls for extensive work to minimize the gender disparity in agriculture to reduce postharvest loss.