[01] Mohammed Mustapha Bada, Bank of Agriculture, Maiduguri Main Branch, Maiduguri, Nigeria. [02] Aminu Suleiman, Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Bayero University, Kano, NigeriaDepartment of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria. [03] Amina Mustapha, Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria. [04] Ashafa Salisu Sambo, Department of Agricultural Extension and Management, Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic Zaria, Samaru-Kataf Campus, Samaru-Kataf, Nigeria. [05] Kabir Abdulaziz, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, Mabushi-Abuja, Nigeria.

The study analysed post-harvest losses and profitability of fresh tomato production and marketing at various stages of food supply chain viz. farm, wholesale and retail market levels in three Local Government Areas of Kano State, Nigeria namely; Kura, Tofa and Wudil. The primary objective of the study was to determine the effects of post-harvest losses on profitability of fresh tomato production and marketing. A multi-stage sampling technique was used for samples selection. A pretested questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents selected randomly. A proportion of 10% of actors were chosen from a sample frame of 1604. The sample size comprises of 96 producers, 21 wholesalers and 43 retailers making a total of 160 respondents. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, post-harvest loss estimation model, gross margin analysis, marketing margin analysis and multiple regression analysis. The results of the analysis revealed that majority of fresh tomato producers and marketers were within their active working age of 28-47 years, married with low level of formal education. The study also revealed that tomato production and marketing was a profitable business with return per naira invested of ₦1.88, ₦0.60 and ₦0.19 for producers, wholesalers and retailers respectively. Finally, the result from multiple regression analysis indicated that all the independent variables had negative coefficients indicating an inverse relationship between values of post-harvest losses and gross profit of tomato production and marketing. At the farm level, the values of losses at harvest and during transportation were significant at P≤0.01, while values of losses during sorting and packaging were significant at P≤0.05. At the wholesale market level, the values of loss during sorting and transportation significant at P≤0.01 and P≤0.1 respectively. At the retail market level, the values of loss during packaging and storage were significant at P≤0.01, during sorting significant at P≤0.1 while value of loss during transportation was significant at P≤0.05. To reduce problems associated with post-harvest losses, the study therefore recommends training of farmers on post-harvest handling technologies, provision of good storage facilities at affordable prices, establishment of local tomato processing plants and encourage the public to accept processed agricultural products.

Fresh Tomato, Marketing, Post-harvest Losses, Production, Profitability

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