"Horticulture farmers lose up to 50 per cent of their produce due to lack of proper storage facilities and handling know-how. They also lack knowledge on maturity indices of the crops, proper harvesting methods, proper containers to reduce bruising, proper sheds or shades, good roads and lack of cooling facilities.”
Thus is quoted Dr Margaret Muchui, a post-harvest physiologist at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation. At a workshop in Thika last weekend, she said post-harvest losses are especially severe in tomatoes and bananas. Post-harvest loss in tomatoes is 55.3 per cent and 50 per cent for bananas.