Postharvest losses
Encyclopedia
The postharvest sector includes all points in the value chain
from production in the field to the food being placed on a plate for consumption. Postharvest activities include: Harvesting, handling, storage
, processing
, packaging, transportation and marketing
. The amount of resources used and the efficiency of production are contingent upon use of appropriate technologies, infrastructure, storage, processing, marketing and transportation (Mrema & Rolle 2002).
Insufficiencies in one of these areas results in significant amounts of horticultural crop
s that are lost due to harvesting at an incorrect stage of produce maturity, water loss, drought
, extreme temperatures, physical damage, contamination
by pests and market competition. “In developing countries, losses of the order of 40-75% have been reported” (Clark et al. 1997, p. 301). Postharvest loss results not only in the loss of the actual crop, but also losses in the environment, resources, labor needed to produce the crop and livelihood of individuals involved in the production process. When 30 percent of a harvest is lost, 30 percent of all the factors that contributed to producing the crop are also wasted (World Resources 1998).
The majority of rural populations in developing countries has limited to no resources and solely depends on the agricultural sector for their subsistence, livelihood and revenue. Therefore, postharvest losses are often felt with greater magnitude then in developed nations. “While in developing countries the share of postharvest activities in total value added of food products tends to be lower, there is a tendency towards greater importance of postharvest operations” (Goletti & Wolff, 1999, p. 7). Small-scale farmers depend heavily on the agricultural sector but they experience disturbingly high levels of postharvest loss due to over-ripening, decay and physical injuries caused during handling, packaging and transporting (Acedo & Weinberger 2006).
There are a wide range of postharvest technologies that can be adopted to improve losses throughout the process of pre-harvest, harvest, cooling, temporary storage, transport, handling and market disbursement. Recommended technologies vary depending on the type of loss experienced and include: Using liners for existing packages, sorting produce by quality, providing shade, using tables, using dry ice for insect control, low energy cold storage, monitoring produce temperature, improved transportation, low-cost food processing, solar drying and curing (Kader 2003).
Value chain
The value chain, is a concept from business management that was first described and popularized by Michael Porter in his 1985 best-seller, Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance.-Firm Level:...
from production in the field to the food being placed on a plate for consumption. Postharvest activities include: Harvesting, handling, storage
Food storage
Food storage is both a traditional domestic skill and is important industrially. Food is stored by almost every human society and by many animals...
, processing
Food processing
Food processing is the set of methods and techniques used to transform raw ingredients into food or to transform food into other forms for consumption by humans or animals either in the home or by the food processing industry...
, packaging, transportation and marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
. The amount of resources used and the efficiency of production are contingent upon use of appropriate technologies, infrastructure, storage, processing, marketing and transportation (Mrema & Rolle 2002).
Insufficiencies in one of these areas results in significant amounts of horticultural crop
Crop
Crop may refer to:* Crop, a plant grown and harvested for agricultural use* Crop , part of the alimentary tract of some animals* Crop , a modified whip used in horseback riding or disciplining humans...
s that are lost due to harvesting at an incorrect stage of produce maturity, water loss, drought
Drought
A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation. It can have a substantial impact on the ecosystem and agriculture of the affected region...
, extreme temperatures, physical damage, contamination
Contamination
Contamination is the presence of a minor and unwanted constituent in material, physical body, natural environment, at a workplace, etc.-Specifics:"Contamination" also has more specific meanings in science:...
by pests and market competition. “In developing countries, losses of the order of 40-75% have been reported” (Clark et al. 1997, p. 301). Postharvest loss results not only in the loss of the actual crop, but also losses in the environment, resources, labor needed to produce the crop and livelihood of individuals involved in the production process. When 30 percent of a harvest is lost, 30 percent of all the factors that contributed to producing the crop are also wasted (World Resources 1998).
The majority of rural populations in developing countries has limited to no resources and solely depends on the agricultural sector for their subsistence, livelihood and revenue. Therefore, postharvest losses are often felt with greater magnitude then in developed nations. “While in developing countries the share of postharvest activities in total value added of food products tends to be lower, there is a tendency towards greater importance of postharvest operations” (Goletti & Wolff, 1999, p. 7). Small-scale farmers depend heavily on the agricultural sector but they experience disturbingly high levels of postharvest loss due to over-ripening, decay and physical injuries caused during handling, packaging and transporting (Acedo & Weinberger 2006).
There are a wide range of postharvest technologies that can be adopted to improve losses throughout the process of pre-harvest, harvest, cooling, temporary storage, transport, handling and market disbursement. Recommended technologies vary depending on the type of loss experienced and include: Using liners for existing packages, sorting produce by quality, providing shade, using tables, using dry ice for insect control, low energy cold storage, monitoring produce temperature, improved transportation, low-cost food processing, solar drying and curing (Kader 2003).