Lisa Kitinoja - The Postharvest Education Foundation PO Box ۳۸, La Pine, Oregon ۹۷۷۳۹ USA
Olubukola Odeyemi - Department of Horticulture, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
Neeru Dubey - Amity International Center for Post-Harvest Technology & Cold Chain Management. Amity Institute of Horticulture Studies & Research, Amity University-Uttar Pradesh, Noida-۲۰۱۳۰۱
Solange Musanase - University of Rwanda, Bushogo, Rwanda

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify and quantify the main causes and sources of losses in the tomato postharvest chain from harvest to retail market and identify appropriate interventions for reducing these losses in Nigeria, Rwanda and India. Research method:  Modified Commodity Systems Assessment Methodology on tomato was conducted in the study area during the July - August 2017 harvest season. Findings: Generally, production is increasing with high postharvest losses. Tomato postharvest losses were uniformly high on the farm during harvest but generally lower during marketing in India than in Rwanda or Nigeria. Nigeria loses 10-40% of tomato produced from the farm to the retail market due to poor handling and unavailability of storage facilities. In Rwanda, tomato losses were exceedingly high, reaching 50 to 60%. These losses begin with the use of poor quality seeds to rough handling and use of inappropriate packaging materials. Losses in India varied between 1-18% mainly due to pest and disease attack and low price realization during glut season. However, in India, improved practices have been widely adopted on farm to retail market. Limitations:  Resources were limited, so a single two week time period were randomly selected to conduct each of the studies which  focused on one state, district or region, so data cannot be used to describe losses for the entire country. Originality/Value: These studies identified priority tomato postharvest problems, key issues that currently limit market access, earnings for small farmers and rural marketer, training and advocacy issues for the three countries.

fruit vegetables, handling, postharvest losses, quality, value chain