The Burden of Postharvest Losses: Food Vendors’ Narrative and Effective Shelf-Life Handling

Ambrose Oloveze; Emmanuel O. Ahaiwe; Ogbonnaya Ukeh Oteh; Chukwuma Aniuga; Victoria Onya

The Burden of Postharvest Losses: Food Vendors’ Narrative and Effective Shelf-Life Handling

Abstract

The short-life of fresh fruits and vegetables calls for attention, unfortunately, the losses of fruits and vegetables on account of inadequate handling practices is immense in developing countries. Food vendors and smallholders that are one of the key economic players in the informal economy are disproportionately affected. Our study focused on vendors’ narratives in shelf-life practices, interventions, proximate determinants, and the role of knowledge and market pressures in determining shelf-life practices. We adopted descriptive survey and pooled 200 food vendors in urban and semi-urban areas while analysis was conducted using summary statistics, factor analysis, and logistic regression. Our findings confirm that food vendors adopt a blend of traditional approaches and modern techniques in handling shelf-life while also indicating farm-to-market transport system, cold room storage, safety, marital status, education and experience as the determinants on effective shelf-life practices. Practically, the implication is on designing and implementing targeted intervention programmes and policies that facilitates food vendors’ shelf-life practices.

Keywords

References

Abass A.B., Fischler M., Schneider K., Daudi S., Gasper A., Rust J., …& Kenmore P. 2014. On-farm comparison of different postharvest storage technologies in a maize farming system of Tanzania. Journal of Stored Products Research, 57, 1-12. Doi: 10.1016/j.jspr.2013.10.004
Adepoju A.O. & Oyemomi O.G. 2021. Postharvest losses and food security in Nigeria: Analysis of drivers and policy responses. Journal of Agricultural Extension, 25(2), 45-57
Adepoju A.O. & Oyeyinka R.A. 2020. Food vendors and consumer trust: Implications for food safety in developing economies. Journal of Food Systems Research, 15(2), 45-58
Affogno, H., Mutungi C., Sanginga P. & Borgemeister C. 2015. Unpacking postharvest losses in sub-Saharan Africa: A meta-analysis. World Development, 66, 49-68. Doi:10.1016/j.worlddev.2014.08.002
Alawode O.W. & Tabit F.T. 2025. An investigation of the food safety knowledge of the street vendors in Oyo State, Nigeria. Cogent Food & Agriculture, 11(1), 2559975. Doi:10.1080/23311932.2025.2559975
Aljasir S. F. 2023. Food safety knowledge and practices among food handlers and consumers in Gulf countries: An integrative review. Global Public Health, 18(1), 2287584. Doi:10.1080/17441692.2023.2287584
Ambuko J.L., Masakhwe S.M., Amwoka E. & Mujuka E. 2025. Food loss and waste data gaps in fruit and vegetable value chains: A review of the literature. Frontiers in Horticulture, 4, Doi: 10.3389/fhort.2025.1529040m
Amwoka E.M., Ambuko J., Jesang H.M. & Owino W. 2021. Effectiveness of selected cold chain management practices to extend shelf life of mango fruit. Advances in Agriculture, 1, 8859144. Doi:10.1155/2021/8859144

Anyanwu J.C. & Erhijakpor A.E.O. 2009. The impact of road infrastructure on poverty reduction in Africa. In Poverty in Africa Beasley T.W. (ed.). New York: Nova Science Publisher
Aulakh J. & Regmi A. 2013. Postharvest food losses estimation development of consistent methodology. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). https://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/ess/documents/meetings_and_workshops/GS_S AC_2013/Improving_methods_for_estimating_post_harvest_losses/Final_PHLs_Estimati on_6-13-13.pdf (accessed 9 September 2025)
APHLIS. 2023. Africa postharvest losses information system: Nigeria country data. https://www.aphlis.net (accessed 2 September 2025)
Aworh O.C. 2020. Reducing food losses and waste in Nigeria: Lessons from other countries. Nigerian Food Journal, 38(1), 1-10
Bagdia R., Gattu A., Keche Y., Agrawal A. & Parakh A. 2023. Assessment of the cold chain market in Nigeria. Efficiency for Access Coalition. www.efficiencyfoaccess.org (accessed 26 September 2025)
Bagozzi R.P. & Yi Y. 1988. On the evaluation of structural equation models. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 16(1), 74-94
Barrett D.M. & Lloyd B. 2012. Advanced preservation methods and nutrient retention in fruits and vegetables. Journal of Science of Food and Agriculture, 92(1), 7-22. Doi: 10.1002/jsfa.4718
Baoua I.B., Amadou L., Ousmane B., Baributsa D. & Murdock L.L. 2014. PICS bags for postharvest storage of maize grain in West Africa. Journal of Stored Products Research, 58, 20-28. Doi:10.1016/j.jspr.2014.03.001
Behdani B., Fan Y. & Bloemhof J.M. 2019. Cool chain and temperature-controlled transport: An overview of concepts, challenges and technologies. Sustainable Food Supply Chains, 167- 183. Doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-813411-5.00012-0
Brown M.E., Carr E.R., Grace K.L., Wiebe F., Funk C.C., Attavanich W. et al., 2017. Do markets and trade help or hurt the global food system adapt to climate change? Food Policy, 68, 154-159. Doi: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2017.02.004
Codex Alimentarius Commission 2020. General principles of food hygiene (CXC 1-1969). Rome: FAO/WHO
Cristache N., Croitoru G. & Florea N.V. 2025. The influence of knowledge management on innovation and organizational performance. Journal of Innovation and Knowledge, 10(5), 100793. Doi:10.1016/j.jik.2025.100793
Cruz R.M.S. 2025. Storage and shelf-life assessment of food products. Foods. 14(16), 2795. Doi: 10.3390/foods14162795
Dawei L., Bai L., Wang R. & Ying S. 2024. Research progress of machine learning in extending and regulating the shelf life of fruits and vegetables. Foods, 13(19), 3025.
FAO 2021. The state of food security and nutrition in the world 2021. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
FAO 2019. The state of food and agriculture 2019: Moving forward on food loss and waste reduction. Food and Agriculture of the United Nations. http://www.fao.org/3/ca6030en/ca6030en.pdf (accessed 26 September 2025).
FAO 2011. Global food losses and food waste – Extent, causes and prevention. Rome: FAO. https://www.fao.org/4/mb060e/mb060e.pdf (accessed 15 September 2025).
Filmer D., Friedman J., Kandpal E. & Onishi J. 2023. Cash transfer, food prices and nutrition impacts on ineligible children. The Review of Economics and Statistics, 105(2), 327-343.
GAIN 2022. Impact story: Reducing postharvest losses in Nigeria’s fruit and vegetable markets.
Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition. https://www.gainhealth.org/sites/default/files/publications/documents/20-impact-stories-31oct22.pdf (accessed 15 September 2025).
Hasan M., Jangir M. & Ahmad F. 2022. Recent advances in edible coatings for fruits and vegetables: A review. Food Packaging and Shelf Life, 33, 100883.
Hodges R.J., Buzby J.C. & Bennett B. 2011. Postharvest losses and waste in developed and less developed countries: Opportunities to improve resource use. Journal of Agricultural Science, 149(S1), 37-45.
Hossain S. & Kashem S.B. 2025. Transportation resilience and food security: Developing a conceptual framework through literature review. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 9, Doi:10.3389/fsufs.2025.1569474
Jarman A., Thompson J., McGuire E., Reid M., Rubsam S., Becker K. & Mitcam E. 2023. Postharvest technologies for small-scale farmers in low-and middle-income countries: A call to action. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 206, 112491.
Kacaniova K., Cmikova N., Ban Z., Garzoli S., Elizondo-Luevano J.H., Hsouna A.B., Saad R.B., Bianchi A., Venturi F., Kluz M.I. & Hascik P. 2024. Enhancing the shelf-life of sous-vide red deer meat with piper nigrum essential oil: A stud of antimicrobial efficacy against listeria monocytogenes. Molecules, 29(17), 4179. Doi: 10.3390/molecules29174179
Kader A.A. 2005. Increasing food availability by reducing postharvest losses of fresh produce. Acta Horticulturae, 682, 2169-2176. Doi: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2005.682.296
Kafkaletou M., Velliou A., Christopoulos M.V., Ouzounidou G. & Tsantili E. 2023. Impact of cold storage temperature and shelf life on ripening physiology, quality attributes and nutritional value of Apricots – Implications of cultivar. Plants, 12(15), 2875. Doi:10.3390/plants12152875
Kasso M. & Bekele A. 2018. Postharvest loss and quality deterioration of horticultural crops in Ethiopia: A review. Journal of Horticulture and Forestry, 10(1), 1-8. Doi: 10.5897/JHF2017.0517
Kitinoja L., Saran S., Roy S.K. & Kader A.A. 2011. Postharvest technology for developing countries: Challenges and opportunities in research, outreach and advocacy. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 91(4), 597-603. Doi: 10.1002/jsfa.4295
Kitinoja L. & Thompson A.K. 2010. Prevention of postharvest food losses: Fruits, vegetables and root crops. Rome: FAO. https://www.fao.org/4/t0073e/t0073e01.htm (accessed 16 September 2025)
Kunwar A., Bist D.R., Khatri L., Dhami R. & Joshi G.R. 2024. Optimizing post-harvest handling practices to reduce losses and enhance quality of fruits and vegetables. Food and Agri Economics Review, 4(2), 54-58
Ladika G., Strati I., Tsiaka T., Cavouras D. & Sinanoglou V.J. 2024. On the assessment of strawberries’ shelf-life and quality, based on image analysis, physicochemical methods and chemometrics. Foods, 13(2), 234. Doi: 10.3390/foods13020234
Lipinski B., Hanson C., Lomax J., Kitinoja L., Waite, R. & Searchinger, T. (2013). Reducing food loss and waste. World Resources Institute. https://www.wri.org/research/reducing-food-loss-and-waste (accessed 13 June 2025).
Lokuge S. & Subasinghage M. 2020. Knowledge management competence and ISD vendor innovativeness in turbulent markets. Australasian Conference on Information Systems. www.arxiv.org (accessed 27 June 2025)
Mbanasor J.A., Oteh O.U., Agwu N.M., Onwusiribe C.N., Ibem C.N., Okpokiri C. & Oloveze A.O. 2023. Wheat or cassava floor? Marketing and willingness to pay for cassava floor confectionary in Nigeria. Economia agro-alimentare / Food Economy, 24(3), 1-25.
Mejeha R.O., Onwumere J.C., Ahaiwe E.O., Abasiekong K.S., Kalu O.U.A. & Oloveze A.O. 2024. Analysis of cold chain system for fruits and vegetables in Nigeria. Nigerian Agricultural Journal, 55(2), 504-517
Mounika K., Reddy P.P., Singh R.P., Pandey A., Bharty S.K., Kumar A., Tiwari K. & Jain S. 2025. Postharvest technologies and cold-chain management: A review. Plant Archives, 25(1), 3275-3283. Doi: 10.51470/PLANTARCHIVES.202.v25.supplement-1.447
Ndungu S.K., Nenguwo N. & Wafula W. 2018. Post-harvest management practices and losses for vegetables in informal markets of Nairobi, Kenya. Agriculture, 8(2), 31
Nunes M.C.N. 2008. Colour atlas of postharvest quality fruits and vegetables. Wiley-Blackwell Nwokoye E., Chukwunonso E. & Igbanugo C.I. 2019. Transportation infrastructure and diversification of the Nigerian economy: Implications for the developmental state. Nigerian Journal of Economic and Social Studies, 59(3), 310-330
Okolie N.P., Eze S.O. & Ogu G.I. 2021. Edible coatings and packaging innovations for shelf life extension of Nigerian fruits and vegetables. African Journal of Food Science, 15(9), 321-330
Olayemi F.F., Adegoke G.O. & Oyawoye O.O. 2022. Postharvest handling and market losses of perishable crops in Nigeria. African Journal of Postharvest Technology, 3(1), 12-20
Onwusiribe C.N., Oteh O.U., Agwu N.M., Okpokiri C. & Oloveze A.O. 2024. Root and tuber crop market system in Nigeria: Macroeconomic determinants. Journal of Agribusiness Marketing, 12(1), 32-50. Doi: 10.56527/jabm.12.1.3
Oteh O.U., Agbugba I.K., Agwu N.M., Oloveze A.O. & Ayoola, M.O. 2021. Leading post- COVID-19 recovery from the front: On the shoulder of agriculture and food policy. Agricultural Economics and Extension Research Studies, 9(2), 64-76
Oteh O.U., Osabohien R., Mbanasor J.A., Agwu N.M., Oloveze A.O. & Hefferon K. 2023. Marketing capabilities, market orientation and food security of biofortified cassava producers in Nigeria. Journal of Macromarketing, 1-13, Doi: 10.1177/02761467231187307
Putri M.S. & Susanna D. 2021. Food safety knowledge, attitudes, and practices of food handlers at kitchen premises in the Port “X” area, North Jakarta, Indonesia 2018. Indian Journal of Food Safety, 10(4), 9215. Doi:10.4081/1jfs.2021.9215
Rubagumya I., Komakech A.J., Menya E., Kizito S., Zziwa A. & Kabenge I. 2023. Postharvest losses of fruits and vegetables along their urban supply chain in Eastern Africa: A case study of Uganda towards sustainable management. Journal of Biosystems Engineering, 48, 105-114.
Sandhya 2010. Modified atmosphere packaging of fresh produce: Current status and future needs. LWT-Food Science and Technology, 43(3), 381-392. Doi: 10.1016/j.lwt.2009.05.018
Tapsoba L.D.S., Kiemde S.M.A., Lamond B.F. & Lepine J. 2022. On the potential of packaging for reducing fruit and vegetable losses in sub-Saharan Africa. Foods, 11(7), 952. Doi: 10.3390/foods11070952
World Bank 2022. Addressing food loss and waste: Opportunities for a resilient food system. Washington, DC: The World Bank Group.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Industrial Crops

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Ambrose Oloveze ^*
Nigeria

Emmanuel O. Ahaiwe This is me
Nigeria

Ogbonnaya Ukeh Oteh
Nigeria

Chukwuma Aniuga This is me
Nigeria

Victoria Onya
Nigeria

Publication Date

June 30, 2026

Submission Date

November 28, 2025

Acceptance Date

May 30, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 10 Number: 1

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA69EB84SC

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Oloveze, A., Ahaiwe, E. O., Oteh, O. U., Aniuga, C., & Onya, V. (2026). The Burden of Postharvest Losses: Food Vendors’ Narrative and Effective Shelf-Life Handling. Eurasian Journal of Agricultural Research, 10(1), 16-35. https://izlik.org/JA69EB84SC

AMA

1.Oloveze A, Ahaiwe EO, Oteh OU, Aniuga C, Onya V. The Burden of Postharvest Losses: Food Vendors’ Narrative and Effective Shelf-Life Handling. EJAR. 2026;10(1):16-35. https://izlik.org/JA69EB84SC

Chicago

Oloveze, Ambrose, Emmanuel O. Ahaiwe, Ogbonnaya Ukeh Oteh, Chukwuma Aniuga, and Victoria Onya. 2026. “The Burden of Postharvest Losses: Food Vendors’ Narrative and Effective Shelf-Life Handling”. Eurasian Journal of Agricultural Research 10 (1): 16-35. https://izlik.org/JA69EB84SC.

EndNote

Oloveze A, Ahaiwe EO, Oteh OU, Aniuga C, Onya V (June 1, 2026) The Burden of Postharvest Losses: Food Vendors’ Narrative and Effective Shelf-Life Handling. Eurasian Journal of Agricultural Research 10 1 16–35.

IEEE

[1]A. Oloveze, E. O. Ahaiwe, O. U. Oteh, C. Aniuga, and V. Onya, “The Burden of Postharvest Losses: Food Vendors’ Narrative and Effective Shelf-Life Handling”, EJAR, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 16–35, June 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA69EB84SC

ISNAD

Oloveze, Ambrose - Ahaiwe, Emmanuel O. - Oteh, Ogbonnaya Ukeh - Aniuga, Chukwuma - Onya, Victoria. “The Burden of Postharvest Losses: Food Vendors’ Narrative and Effective Shelf-Life Handling”. Eurasian Journal of Agricultural Research 10/1 (June 1, 2026): 16-35. https://izlik.org/JA69EB84SC.

JAMA

1.Oloveze A, Ahaiwe EO, Oteh OU, Aniuga C, Onya V. The Burden of Postharvest Losses: Food Vendors’ Narrative and Effective Shelf-Life Handling. EJAR. 2026;10:16–35.

MLA

Oloveze, Ambrose, et al. “The Burden of Postharvest Losses: Food Vendors’ Narrative and Effective Shelf-Life Handling”. Eurasian Journal of Agricultural Research, vol. 10, no. 1, June 2026, pp. 16-35, https://izlik.org/JA69EB84SC.

Vancouver

1.Ambrose Oloveze, Emmanuel O. Ahaiwe, Ogbonnaya Ukeh Oteh, Chukwuma Aniuga, Victoria Onya. The Burden of Postharvest Losses: Food Vendors’ Narrative and Effective Shelf-Life Handling. EJAR [Internet]. 2026 Jun. 1;10(1):16-35. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA69EB84SC