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Assessment of Farmers’ Knowledge of Perishable Agricultural Produce Inventory Management

Abstract

Perishable agricultural produce requires effective inventory management because its quality and market value can decline rapidly after harvest. Proper management of quantities, storage periods, stock movement, handling conditions, and disposal decisions is important for reducing spoilage and postharvest losses. Farmers who have adequate knowledge of inventory management can make better decisions concerning the storage, monitoring, marketing, and movement of perishable produce. Assessing farmers’ knowledge in this area is therefore important for improving postharvest management and reducing unnecessary losses. This study will assess farmers’ knowledge of perishable agricultural produce inventory management. The study will determine farmers’ level of knowledge of inventory management practices, identify the methods commonly used to monitor stored and marketed produce, and assess farmers’ understanding of factors that influence the quantity, quality, and movement of perishable agricultural products. It will also identify areas of knowledge deficiency in the management of perishable produce inventories. The study will focus on farmers’ knowledge of inventory management, stock recording, quantity monitoring, produce classification, storage duration, stock rotation, first-in-first-out practices, quality monitoring, spoilage identification, storage capacity management, market scheduling, record keeping, and disposal of deteriorated produce. Information will be obtained from farmers who handle perishable agricultural products to assess their understanding and application of inventory management principles. A quantitative research approach will be adopted for the study. Data will be collected from selected farmers using structured questionnaires and appropriate observation methods. Descriptive statistics such as frequency distributions, percentages, means, and standard deviations will be used to summarize the data. Knowledge scores will be used to determine farmers’ levels of knowledge, while relevant inferential statistical techniques may be applied to examine associations between farmers’ characteristics and their knowledge of perishable produce inventory management. The study is expected to reveal varying levels of knowledge among farmers regarding the management of perishable agricultural produce inventories. Some farmers may demonstrate adequate knowledge of stock recording, produce sorting, stock rotation, and spoilage monitoring, while others may have limited knowledge of inventory documentation, storage duration, quantity tracking, and systematic stock movement. The study may also identify specific knowledge gaps that contribute to excessive spoilage, inefficient stock management, and postharvest losses. The study will be useful to farmers, agricultural extension agents, agricultural development agencies, cooperatives, produce marketers, researchers, storage operators, and policymakers. It may provide useful information for developing farmer education programmes focused on inventory management and postharvest loss reduction. The findings may also assist extension personnel in promoting simple and practical inventory management techniques that farmers can apply to improve the handling and marketing of perishable produce. The study concludes that adequate knowledge of inventory management is important for effective handling, storage, and marketing of perishable agricultural produce. It is therefore recommended that agricultural extension agencies and relevant agricultural organizations strengthen farmer education on stock recording, quantity monitoring, stock rotation, quality assessment, storage duration, and spoilage management. Practical demonstrations and simplified record-keeping tools should also be promoted to improve farmers’ knowledge and management of perishable agricultural produce inventories.

Keywords: Perishable agricultural produce, inventory management, farmers’ knowledge, postharvest management, stock recording, stock monitoring, produce storage, stock rotation, quality monitoring, spoilage management, record keeping, storage duration, postharvest losses, produce handling, agricultural extension.