ISSN 2360-798X
Abstract: Postharvest losses on mangoes are mostly caused by a number of factors in Lafia Local Government Area, Nasarawa State. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire which dwelled on the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers, problems and prospects of postharvest losses on mango. Fifty questionnaires were administered randomly to obtain the relevant information. Simple percentages were used as a basis of data analysis. A range of the mango farmers (both men and women) (54%) were grouped between 31-40 years old. A proportion of both men and women were randomly selected. The results showed that insects and diseases (30%), livestock /bats /rodents (16%), adverse weather conditions (14%), capital unavailability (8%), poor harvesting and poor handling (6%) each, lack of knowledge about postharvest technology, high perishability and poor storage facilities (4%) each, while distant market, low price and shortage of labour had (2%) each are some of the major factors that caused postharvest losses on mango in the study area. Results obtained in this study indicated that the need for breeders to develop high-yielding mango varieties that are adapted to cultivation in the North Central region of Nigeria, with relatively high resistance to attack by insects. It was also suggested among others that harvesting of fruits should be when they are mature and are about to ripen instead of waiting for the majority of fruits to ripen before harvesting thereby increasing susceptibility to insect pest attack.
Keywords:Factors, Postharvest losses, Mango, Lafia, Nigeria