The Problems of Nigeria Farmers on Post Harvest Preservation of Fruits and Vegetables
M.A. Oke
Book of Abstract. Information & technology for sustainable fruit & vegetable production, The 7th Fruit, Nut and Vegetable Production Engineering Symposium, 12-16 September 2005, Monpellier, France. Page 47
2005
บทคัดย่อ
The Problems of Nigeria Farmers on Post Harvest Preservation of Fruits and Vegetables
Nigeria Agriculture is made up of peasant farmers especially in the rural areas, neglected with various problems, if other developed countries, could he of help. This will go a long way in the history of Nigerians agriculture. To mention some of the few problems thus the post harvest, preservation of some of the fruits such as oranges, Guava mangoes remain and vegetables such as amaranth and okra. The available technology in the areas of post harvesting are outdated, the technical aspect as being a problem, where some of the extension agent lack adequate knowledge in the production techniques. Although the present government are making every effort to solve the menaces, but various problems related to the cost of maintenance of the machines, availability of the power source, the cost of an average farmers will not be able to sustain it. Although there are various fabricated machines, to enhance the preservation of fruits and vegetables in Nigeria, what areas as it affect to mention a few, low prices of Nigerian fruit and vegetables in the international countries, unemployment level in the areas of production, distortion of the fruits and vegetables, increase in the labour and manufacture of the fruit, cost of transportation, reduction in Nigerian foreign exchange. In Nigerian there are a few area that are know for the cultivation of vegetable especially in eastern part of Nigeria during such period, how is the market of vegetables and fruit. As they have any difficult problems in making it available to the populace. Also in AbiaState, Agricultural development programme as initiated a list of project related to post harvest have such progressed be of benefit to an average farmers what are the area of focus in related to fruit and vegetable? What are the various ways in which the associations unions have contributed to the marketing of fruits and vegetablesin Nigeria? Do we have policy papers, guide line to ensure the proper distribution of tile fruit and vegetables. Average populace found it difficult to engage in the preservation of vegetables reasons thus is that there has being a problem of individual effort, not collective effort and not to see preservation as a source of an improvement in she standard of living during the peak period the farmers will be busy an the farm but come dry seasons, they are left with anything to work on, poverty such increases hot some If the farmers that have enough money do practices irrigation farming, how does it affect the marketing forces, of such fruit and vegetables. Do we have any relationship of prices differences, demand of the fruit and vegetables, during the harvesting seasons on it after dry the period. Experiences, will also be share on when did tile farmers do some of the harvesting is it period to the markets day what are the various ways to ensuring the preservation of fruits and vegetable are will doing the right thing and meeting the needs of Nigeria and also the international country at large, mode of transportation, harvesting preservation distribution planning, storage effect of the different seasons of farming period, the effectof disease ma fruit aid vegetables and the method of preservationand finally what can be done to increase the effective participation of farmers of Nigerian and Africa in the area of post harvest preservationof trial stillvegetables.