Effect of transportation and distribution of Amaranthus (Amaranthus cruentus) in Minna, Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

Amaranthus (Amaranthus cruentus) is an important agricultural vegetable that can be characterized by the type of handling from the field to the market and to the consumers. Being perishable produce, it requires a good transportation, handling, and distribution system to enable amaranthus to be delivered to the market and to consumers in a quality state. The authors used a questionnaire survey method to arrive at the results that are presented. The result showed that there were more males than female respondents in the market but more women were involved in growing of amaranthus. Although the quality loss of amaranthus that occurs during marketing can be often associated with mechanical damages, water loss, chilling injury and decay. Poor storage facilities were also rated as the next problem encountered. The study also established that poor road networks resulted in vehicular vibrations causing damage to the amaranthus transported as the next constraint.