Al-Hikmah University Journal

As a result of the lockdown during COVID-19 pandemic, farmers and marketers in Ilorin metropolis incurred postharvest losses of fruits, the impact were examined in this study. The objective was to identify the types of postharvest losses, possible causes and storage method on pineapple fruits, in order to increase the shelf life and healthy city. 50 greengrocer respondents were selected. Data were collected with structured questionnaires; frequency and percentage analysis were used, while significant level (p ≤ 0.05) was determined by tabulated Chi-square. Study revealed 3 types of losses at different stages of delivery. Farm gate losses were: mechanical losses (56%), physiological losses (20%) and pathological losses (24%); collection centre: mechanical losses (50%), physiological losses (16%) and pathological losses (34%); market centre: mechanical losses (34%), physiological losses (16%) and pathological losses (50%) and consumer’s level: mechanical losses (30%), physiological losses (60%) and pathological losses (10%). Apart from the usual treatment of the fruits before pandemic, most remarkable result achieved on pathological losses and healthy city planning by agricultural, architectural and engineering research has been on the preventive control of the coronavirus. Research effort was undertaking during the lockdown and this led to the discovery of modular motorized fumigator that showed a good potential for preventive control, trial releases were carried out at Ilorin during the lockdown. Therefore, if these exertions would be supported, there may be better positivity on research and development prospects of Nigeria.