Agricultural Research Management Information System

Home
Research Summary
Search
About Us
- ARMIS
- Brochure
Contact Us
Report
User Request
Data Input
Help
- Operation Manual
  - PDF
  - Video
- Program Area & Commodity
We have reached 37600 number of research entries at this moment.

- Logout

Research Detail

Home
Research
Detail

A Study on Pre- and Postharvest Practices and Postharvest Loss of Banana in Bangladesh

M. K. Hassan
Department of Horticulture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202

F. Whahid
Department of Horticulture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202

N. Akhther
Department of Horticulture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A survey was conducted to collect information on the existing pre- and post harvest practices and to assess post harvest loss of banana in supply chain. The supply chain actors interviewed were growers, Bepari (large traders who purchase fruits locally and deliver to the distant markets), wholesalers and retailers. The survey was conducted using structured interview schedules. Results showed that 100% of the banana growers of Shakhipur and Ghatail Upazilla of Tangail District used pesticides. Sixty percent of the growers used plant growth regulators (PGRs), especially for quick maturity, and increase in fruit size and yield. It was found that only 32-56% of the growers were involved in accelerated banana ripening (either conventional or chemical). By contrast, all Bepari and 70-80% of the wholesalers were involved in artificial banana ripening. Results also revealed that 85% of the Bepari used synthetic chemicals, which are mainly non-recommended, to hasten banana ripening. The post harvest losses of bananas at the growers’, Bepari, wholesalers’ and retailers’ levels were 7.7, 5.1, 8.6 and 3.2%, respectively. The total post harvest loss of banana from harvesting to retail sale was estimated to be 24.6%, which accounted for an annual economic loss of 5670 million BDT. The losses occurred due mainly to the poor handling, faulty and inadequate transport, and lack of proper and timely storage facilities.

Keywords: Banana, Supply chain, Preharvest factors, Postharvest loss assessment

Location: Ghatail, Shakhipur, Tangail, Madupur, Mymensingh and Dhaka

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Postharvest and Agro-processing

Commodity: Banana

Objectives:

To collect primary information on the pre- and post harvest practices that are in place for banana cultivation and to assess post harvest quantitative losses of banana in Bangladesh.

Methodology:

The study was carried out using structured interview schedules. The stakeholders including growers and intermediaries (Bepari, wholesalers and retailers) in banana supply chain were interviewed. For growers, data were collected from four DAE blocks in two Upazilla (Ghatail and Shakhipur) of Tangail district. From each block, 25 growers were randomly chosen for interview. For Bepari, 100 Bepari were interviewed from Garo Bazaar and Jolsotro Bazaar of Madupur Upazilla and Kutubpur Bazaar of Shakhipur Upazilla. For wholesalers, 100 wholesalers were randomly interviewed from Karwan Bazaar of Dhaka and Mechua Bazaar of Mymensingh Sadar. In case of retailers, 100 retailers were randomly interviewed from Mymensingh Sadar and Karwan Bazaar of Dhaka. Four sets of interview schedules were prepared and used to carry out the survey. The responses to the questions were transformed to a master sheet to facilitate tabulation. Tabulation and computation were done on the basis of categories developed. Qualitative data were converted into quantitative ones by means of suitable scoring. Descriptive statistics like number, percentage, range, mean and rank were used to describe the variable.

Source of Information: Bangladesh J. Fruit Sci. & Tech. 2 (1& 2): 127-132 (2011), ISSN 2218-6824

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

It was found that the growers are actually using both conventional and modern techniques to grow banana. Most strikingly, the growers were found to use plant growth regulators (PGRs), especially for quick maturity, and increase in fruit size and yield. The PGRs are available in different trade names like Okozim, Planofix and Crolax, and were applied @ 5-15 mL/10-16 L of water. Different synthetic chemicals like Harvest, Profit, Tomtom, Ripen-15 and Ethrel (not recommended for absolute fruit ripening) are used by the traders for accelerated ripening. Recommended ripening using ethylene gas should be introduced, optimized and promoted to maintain safety and quality in banana supply chain in Bangladesh. The post harvest loss of bananas in supply chain was quite significant and estimated to be 24.6% (7.7, 5.1, 8.6 and 3.2% at the growers, Bepari, wholesalers’ and retailers’ levels, respectively). The annual economic loss due to post harvest spoilage was calculated to be 5670 million BDT. Poor handling, lack of proper transportation and storage facilities were found to be the major reasons for such loss in banana supply chain.

Knowledge Management: Journal