Theses and Dissertations Collection

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Browsing Theses and Dissertations Collection by Author "Kimako, Joseph R."

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    Assessment of indoor storage technology on white colour sweet potato tubers (Ipomoea batatas L.Lam) in Morogoro, Tanzania
    (Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2024-04) Kimako, Joseph R.
    Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.Lam.) is a dicotyledonous plant grown as a tuber crop. Sweet potatoes originated from tropical America (Coop, 2010). Sweet potatoes are widely cultivated mainly around the lake zone, eastern zones, southern highlands, and northern parts of Tanzania (URT, 2016). It is grown by 771,257 households during short rainy and long rainy seasons, with an estimated annual production of 504,346 tonnes (NBS 2012). Sweet potato tubers contribute to food security and income generation (Ahmad et al., 2014). Sweet potatoes' high perishability after harvesting is one of the major factors limiting their potential. Insufficient information concerning efficient storage technology limits farmers and traders from choosing the best technology to reduce losses. The research by Teye et al. (2011) compared two storage technologies: the Purpose-Built Evaporative Cooling Barn and Modified Pit Storage under Ghana conditions, neglecting other sweet potato storage technologies. Further research by Mpagalile et al. (2007) used the traditional pit, improved open pit, improved housed pit (mjinge) and raised woven structure (Kihenge) to evaluate the storability of sweet potato under Tanzania conditions neglecting other sweet potato storage technologies. Purpose Evaporative Cooling Barn and housed pit storage are still techniques used to attain optimum temperature and relative humidity for sweet potato storage with temperatures between 12.5°C and 15°C and relative humidity from 85% to 90%. Nevertheless, their adaptability to small-scale farmers and traders in developing countries like Tanzania is limited due to their high initial capital and high running costs for White-coloured sweet potato tubers. Small-scale farmers and traders are in high demand for storage technology, which is low in capital and running costs. Indoor storage technologies are a better choice as they maintain proper storage temperature and relative humidity through ventilation and are used in hot and arid areas (Baimey et al., 2017). In this technology, White coloured sweet potato tubers can be stored with minimum changes in colour, weight, rotting and firmness (Gopala, 2015).This study aimed to assess indoor storage technology on white colour sweet potato tubers (ipomoea batatas l.lam) in Morogoro, Tanzania, that will help to minimise losses of white sweet potato tubers. According to the findings, the most significant cause of post-harvest losses was rodent attack, which was reported by 26.53% and 25% of farmers and traders in Gairo and Morogoro municipalities, respectively, and the extent of white-coloured sweet potato tuber losses observed was 18.36% of farmers and traders in Gairo and 79% of farmers and traders in Morogoro municipality have reported to suffer from moderate post-harvest losses. White-coloured sweet potato tubers stored in ventilated bags and the improved traditional raised platform resulted in a weight loss of 49.4% and 68.7%, respectively. It was also observed that the improved traditional raised platform had a significantly high total soluble content /concentration, with a value of 21.27%. In comparison, Ventilated bags resulted in a Total soluble solid content of 17.02 %, which was significantly low. Furthermore, results show that Ventilated bags had the lowest beta carotene content (8.72 μg/g) compared to other treatments. Results indicate that traders’ source of funding for their sweet potato selling activity was own/self-financing, estimated at 70%, loans estimated at 19.37%, and remittances estimated at 10.63%. Also, the study's findings demonstrate that the single and multi-stage channel systems are the two main sweet potato marketing channels. Retailers constitute 57.5% of respondents, wholesalers 27.5%, and other trades (Middlemen/SME processors) 15%. Furthermore, a study indicated that 21% of traders produce sweet potatoes on their farms, and 97% of merchants purchase sweet potatoes directly from farmers also, 42% purchase sweet potatoes through wholesalers/aggregators. Results continued to reveal that by using ventilated bags storage technology, farmers and traders could earn higher profits, which was Tsh 19,000/= more than other storage technologies (improved traditional raised bamboo buckets and woven Polypropylene Bags.The study results indicate a need to improve post-harvest loss awareness among white-coloured sweet potato farmers and traders to reduce loss and thus begin producing profitably. Also, controlling rodents, avoiding injury, building a proper storage facility and inspecting the stores regularly are the most important aspects to consider when preventing losses. Also, findings suggest that storing white-coloured sweet potato tubers in ventilated bags is appropriate. Using ventilated bags can also be effective when storing undamaged sweet potato tubers. Farmers and traders are advised to sort and grade their tubers before storage. Furthermore, additional research studies should be conducted to develop awareness of other types of storage and methods for reducing sweet potato losses to impact food security in society.