Role of Agricultural Extension in Reducing Post-Harvest Loses of Potatoes in Qalyubia Governorate, Egypt

Ahmed, Mohamed Yosry; Mahrous, Samia Abdel-Azim; Abdel-Ghani, Walaa Mohamed; Diab, Ahmed

doi:10.21608/alexja.2025.358569.1125

Role of Agricultural Extension in Reducing Post-Harvest Loses of Potatoes in Qalyubia Governorate, Egypt "دور الإرشاد الزراعي في تقليل خسائر ما بعد الحصاد في محصول البطاطس ببعض قرى محافظة القليوبية، جمهورية مصر العربية"

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Rural Community and Agricultural Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

² Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

³ Department of Rural Society and Agricultural Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, New Valley University

10.21608/alexja.2025.358569.1125

Abstract

The primary aim of this research is to understand the role of agricultural extension services in reducing potato crop losses from the perspective of farmers. The study focuses on: 1. Evaluating farmers' assessments of potato crop losses in the study area, 2. Understanding the role of agricultural extension services in reducing potato crop losses from the farmers' perspective, and 3. Identifying the main problems faced by potato farmers regarding post-harvest practices and their suggestions for overcoming these issues in the study area. To achieve the study's objectives, data were collected from a sample of 163 respondents from three villages in Qalyubia Governorate using a questionnaire during March 2024. The data were analyzed using frequencies, percentages, range, mean, standard deviation and relative weight. The results indicate that storage is the major contributor to potato crop losses, with the highest relative weight (48.77%), followed by grading and packaging (42.64%). Harvesting and sorting contribute less to losses compared to other processes. The study also shows that private agricultural extension services are perceived by farmers as the most effective in reducing potato crop losses with a relative weight of (70.23%), receiving a higher positive evaluation than government extension services (70.03%). Additionally, the results indicate that the area planted with potatoes is the most influential factor on the effectiveness of agricultural extension services in reducing post-harvest losses, while gender and age have little impact on the effectiveness of these services. Based on the findings, several recommendations were made to improve the role of agricultural extension services in reducing post-harvest losses of potato crops.

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