Adoption of Post-Harvest Practices Implemented by Fruit Farmers in Johor

Abstract

The post-harvest practice is important to maintain and prolong the shelf life of fruits and vegetable. However, farmer's adoption towards agriculture practices is still low. This research aims to determine post-harvest adoption among fruit farmers in Johor. The study employs a Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and Theory Planned Behaviour (TPB) to evaluate the factors that influencing post-harvest practice adoption. 150 fruit farmers in Johor were chosen by using a simple random sampling technique. This study indicates that the level of performance expectations (M=4.27), effort expectations (M=4.36), facilitating conditions (M=3.95), attitude (M=4.09) and post-harvest practices adoption (M=4.33) have a high mean score. This study emphasises the importance of post-harvest practices adoption in improving and maintaining the quality of fruits. Post-harvest practices adoption could help to enhance the per capita availability of fruits because the adoption of post-harvest practises and technologies will affect the reduction in fruits losses, thus increasing the availability of fruits products.