Rice is a crop that contributes to food security and farm income in Fogera district. Despite its contribution, there is a considerable loss in rice production at the farm level. Reducing losses at the farm level are important policy objectives to optimally design interventions targeted at reducing losses. Thus, this study assessed the extent of postharvest loss in rice at different stages at the farm level and factors affecting postharvest loss. Multistage sampling techniques were used to draw 152 sample respondents from the selected kebeles. The data for this study were collected from both primary and secondary sources. Descriptive statistics and Econometric methods were used to analysis the estimated postharvest losses of rice and factors affecting postharvest loss at the farm level. The study result shows that postharvest loss at the farm level was estimated to be 16.35%. The result from Tobit model revealed that postharvest loss was significantly influenced by variables such as family labor, education level, land allocated for rice, access to milling machine, frequency of extension contact, storage facility, and volume of rice production. Therefore, expansion of basic education to farmers, increasing the frequency of extension contact, introduction of harvesting machine, increase the availability of milling machine, and proper storage facility are expected to minimize postharvest losses of rice at the farm level.

Keywords: postharvest loss, rice, farm level, Tobit model, Fogera