ADOPTION OF POSTHARVEST HANDLING TECHNOLOGIES OF PASSION FRUITS (PASSIFLORA EDULIS SIMS VAR.) BY FARMERS IN UASIN GISHU COUNTY

Abstract

In Kenya, Passion fruit is becoming part of solution in staving- off hunger and malnourishment.

Most of the underutilized fruits passion fruits included are often among those which have the

greatest potential in terms of nutrition and income generation for small holders. Passion fruit is

underutilized because of the significant amounts that go into waste during peak production. The

objective of this study was to evaluate how farmers harvest their produce, their postharvest

handling technologies as well as establish their mode of storage of passion fruit (Passiflora edulis

Sims var) in Uasin -Gishu County. A total of 77 farmers were interviewed in Soy and Kapsaret

sub-counties in Uasin Gishu County. The survey was conducted using a semi structured

questionnaire administered through snow ball sampling technique .The data collected was

subjected to descriptive IBM SPSS statistics 21. The study has showed that Most of the farmers in Uasin County have entered into passion fruit production enterprise without proper passion fruit

postharvest handling knowledge. Farmers are encouraged to embrace new harvest and postharvest

handling technologies if they are to reduce Passion fruit postharvest losses.