Browsing by Author "MUITA, KARIMIRE DAVID"

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    EFFECT OF POST-HARVEST LOSSES ON THE INCOME OF AVOCADO FARMERS IN MURANG’A COUNTY, KENYA
    (Egerton University, 2025-10) MUITA, KARIMIRE DAVID
    All over sub-Saharan Africa and Kenya, enhancing avocado post-harvest losses (PHL) throughout the value chain is an essential avenue to increase commercialization, income for farmers and food and nutrition security. In Murang’a County, where avocado farming is the main source of cash livelihood for farmers, significant quantities of harvested fruits are PHL. Because we know very little about the extent of losses caused by disease, their determinants, and income effect, effective mitigation policy cannot be enunciated. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of PHL on the income of smallholder avocado farmers in Gatanga Sub-County in Murang’a County. The specific objectives were to: (i) characterize avocado post-harvest losses (PHL) at farm and market level; (ii) identify factors responsible for PHL; and (iii) assess impact of PHL on farmers’ earnings. To collect data for the study, a quantitative research design was used where a sample of 187 (one hundred eighty seven) farmers was selected through multistage sampling. Details were gathered using well-organized surveys and evaluated using explanation and deduction statistics, a fractional reaction model, and a multinomial endogenous switching survey (MESR) model. The study revealed that 33.16% of the farmers were affected by quality damage or total loss. This damage mainly occurred during harvesting because of diseases and mechanical damage (abrasion, bruising, splitting). Other causes were pest infestation, theft and poor infrastructure and weather conditions. Older farmers with smaller fields that lacked credit access engaged off-farm and had longer distances to market. Sociodemographic factors like education gender household size, farm size, and farming experience had significant effect on income according to MERS model. Male farmers were less likely to lose produce than female farmers. Farmers who were educated had adopted improved practices that caused them to have less PHL. Larger households and larger farm sizes, especially those with labour and infrastructure advantages, were less likely to lose produce. More experienced farmers, however, often incurred greater losses from risky practices. The research calls for stronger measures on pest and disease management, harvesting and handling, storage infrastructure, transport infrastructure, and finance and training access. Reducing PHL will benefit not just farmers but also consumers and other stakeholders along the chain. It will boost the incomes of farmers and also be significant to Kenya’s food security aspirations and commercialisation of avocado farming on a sustainable basis.