Assessment of Current Post-Harvest Handling Techniques for Mango and Avocado in Mbeya Region, Tanzania
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Date
2025-07-31
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Elsevier
Abstract
Mango (Mangifera indica) and avocado (Persea americana) are valuable fruits in Tanzania, known for their
nutritional and economic importance. However, their perishability leads to significant post-harvest losses,
especially for smallholder farmers in Mbeya. The limited knowledge about post-harvest handling identifies a
research gap. This study assessed practices and challenges among mango and avocado farmers to improve
handling techniques. A survey of 150 smallholder farmers in Kyela and Rungwe districts (August–September
2024) examined harvesting, storage, transportation, and post-harvest challenges. Data analysis revealed that
64 % of farmers use traditional harvesting methods that lead to mechanical damage. While 68.8 % manually
hand-harvest, others rely on tree shaking (8.3 %) and sticks or stones (18.8 %), further increasing fruit damage.
Storage at ambient temperature (46 %) fails to extend shelf-life, causing rapid quality deterioration. Trans-
portation by motorcycle (44 %) and head carrying (34 %) exposes fruits to damage. Key challenges included fruit
drop (36 %), rotting before harvest (28 %), and insect infestation (24 %). Only 23.4 % of farmers had reliable
market access, highlighting a major constraint. Education level influenced challenges, with lower-educated
farmers facing more rotting and pest issues. Findings indicate current post-harvest practices are inadequate,
leading to major losses. Simple, cost-effective technologies like edible coatings and training on improved har-
vesting, storage, and transportation are necessary. Investment in affordable cold storage and better transport
infrastructure is crucial. This study provides actionable insights for policymakers and stakeholders to enhance mango and avocado value chains in Tanzania.
Description
This journal Article was Published by Mbeya University of Science and Technology