Perception of tomato sellers regarding post-harvest losses, preservation methods and hygiene practices in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo

The tomato sector in the Democratic Republic of the Congo faces significant post-harvest losses and poor market hygiene. This study, conducted in Bukavu with 360 tomato sellers, assessed perceptions of post-harvest losses, preservation methods, and hygiene practices.The results reveal that post-harvest losses are very high and that sellers’ hygiene practices are inadequate along the tomato supply chain, from production to marketing. Preservation methods included cassava flour coating (52.8%), open-air storage (37.5%), and chemical pesticides (6.1%). The use of pesticides, particularly mancozeb, poses serious food safety risks due to toxic residues. Post-harvest losses of 5–10% were reported by 45% of sellers, mainly caused by microbial contamination (37.2%), physical damage (35.3%), and inadequate preservation (17.5%). Hygiene conditions were critically inadequate: 92.2% of sellers do not wash tomatoes, 67.2% display them on unhygienic surfaces, 93.1% have no dust protection, and 66.9% of stalls are infested with flies. Tomatoes are often transported in unwashed containers, increasing contamination risks. Improved hygiene training, better storage, and stricter pesticide regulation are urgently needed to enhance food safety in Bukavu.