Browsing by Author "Gebremariam, Dimtsu"

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    Supply Chain Management (SCM) Approach to Reduce Post-harvest Losses with Special Emphasis on Cabbage Supply from Akaki to Addis Ababa
    (Addis Ababa University, 2014-12) Gebremariam, Dimtsu; Gebresenbet, Girma (Professor)
    Fruits and vegetables are highly perishable agricultural produces and their post-harvest loss is great in amount. Producers suffer a huge economic loss due to lack of proper understanding about causes and nature of losses, preservation methods, and transportation and marketing. Cabbage, which is highly nutritious vegetable, is an economically important vegetable in Ethiopia and one of the most widely cultivated vegetables in South of Addis Ababa particularly in Akaki area following the Akaki Rivers. This thesis work was conducted to assess the existing conditions of cabbage supply chain, identify/asses the causes and amount of post harvest loss of the produce using the supply chain management approach, and thereafter come up with possible/appropriate loss controlling mechanisms. Moreover, it was conducted by aiming to be an initial/base point for conducting future research works on each of the different causes of post harvest losses identified and their controlling mechanisms set by this study. Seventy-two respondents from farm, local market, wholesale and retail market levels were selected using both random and non-random sampling techniques, and then primary data was collected through interviews, questionnaires and personal observations. Furthermore, to consider the consumer level, 30 cabbage samples were selected from wholesale and retail levels using non-random (quota type) technique. The data collected was both qualitative and quantitative data and analyzed using spreadsheet. Higher storage/transportation temperature, mechanical damage during transportation, disease infection, poor quality of irrigation water, poor storage mechanisms were found as the reasons of post harvest loss of cabbage supplied from Akaki. The total post harvest loss of the produce within the supply chain was found to be 58.9 %, which is high. Keeping the transportation/storage temperatures lower, using appropriate packaging materials, maintaining the quality of irrigation water, proper handling and storage are some of the recommended solutions to reduce the post harvest loss of the produce.