Factors Affecting Postharvest Losses of Smallholder Tomatoes Farmers in South West Region of Cameroon

This study investigated the postharvest management practices implemented by farmers and determined the economic losses incurred, as well as the factors influencing the choice of management practices employed. Using ordinary least square regressions and descriptive statistics to analyse primary data collected using semi-structured questionnaires, the study found that donations and home consumption, landfill, and grading to sell at low prices were the main management practices used by the respondents with the price of labour, selling price, quantity of harvest, and membership in farmers’ cooperative are causes of postharvest losses. It is recommended that the Government should provide workshops and infrastructure to help curtail some of these loses. Keywords: Cameroon, postharvest loss; tomato production; management; value chain