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Quantifying Postharvest Loss of Brinjal: a Farm Level Study in Bangladesh

Mashrufah Khatun
Department of Agricultural Finance, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

Muhammad Shahrukh Rahman
Agricultural Economics Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Joydebpur, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Brinjal (Eggplant) is a very common and popular horticultural crop in Bangladesh. This study reports on quantification of farm level postharvest loss of brinjal in two intensive growing districts Jamalpur and Rangpur of Bangladesh. It also outlines the determinants of brinjal postharvest loss and problems of brinjal farmers. A total of 144 farmers were considered for the study from purposively selected four villages. Total postharvest loss was quantified by evaluating quantitative and qualitative losses of brinjal. Farmers were found well acquainted with a range of postharvest practices such as definite point and stage of brinjal harvesting, sorting, grading and packaging. Morning was the most preferred time for harvesting and selling of brinjal in the survey areas. Distance selling and motor driving van for local selling were used by 25% and 23% of the respondents. Physical damage and physical appearance were the two basic criteria for grading of brinjal at farm level. Among the problems, absence of storage and lower prices of brinjal scored highest PFI 208 and 181, respectively from the possible range of 0 to 216. Farm level postharvest loss of brinjal was 13.90% of total production where full damages accounts for 9.16% alone. Infested by insect and rotten were the primary causes of full damages of brinjal in the survey area. The 4.73% of the total postharvest loss was due to partial damages of brinjal where skinning and bruising constitutes the maximum share. Due to postharvest loss brinjal farmers have to incur financial loss of Tk. 709.05 per decimal of brinjal cultivation. Total harvested amount, farmer’s education, packaging and selling place were found significant factors for postharvest loss of brinjal in the survey area. It is recommended that government, research institution and Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) should work jointly to educate farmers against postharvest loss of brinjal in Bangladesh.

Keywords: Postharvest loss, Postharvest practices, Brinjal

Location: Jamalpur and Rangpur

Start Date: 15-02-2018

End Date: 30-04-2018

Program Area: Postharvest and Agro-processing

Commodity: Brinjal

Objectives:

The present study has been undertaken to (i) document the associated problems of brinjal cultivation at farm level, (ii) assess farm level postharvest losses of brinjal based on postharvest practices and underneath causes, and (iii) identify the determinants of postharvest loss of brinjal at farm level.

Methodology:

Vegetables selection- Postharvest loss is currently the obvious part of every vegetable. The main reason is differences in shelf life. Brinjal is one of the most used vegetables of Bangladesh. But this is very much vulnerable to postharvest losses. So, brinjal was taken under consideration in order to investigate its farm level postharvest losses. Data collection- Data were collected from the sample respondents by using pretested structured interview schedule during 15^th February to 30^th April, 2018. The schedules had three sections: (i) postharvest practices (ii) postharvest loss and (iii) factors affecting postharvest losses. Reports of BBS, published articles, newspaper, reports and unpublished thesis were also used to gather necessary information for the study. Data entry and analysis- After completing data collection, each interview schedule was carefully checked by the researcher. After inspecting all the schedules, they were entered into the Microsoft Excel data sheet. Basic statistical tools were used for analysis the data to fulfill the objectives.

Source of Information: J Bangladesh Agril Univ 17(4): 454–460, 2019

Article Link (Online Journal): DOI: https://doi.org/10.3329/jbau.v17i4.44605

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Once harvested, horticultural crops are very much prone to degradation. A range of postharvest practices have to practice immediately after harvest to reduce this degradation. The matter of postharvest loss of horticultural crops is important as it affects both producers and consumers. Among the horticultural crops brinjal is one of the most popular vegetable crops in Bangladesh. Cultivation of brinjal is thus one of the primary sources of income for both rich and poor farmers. So, like production and growth, its postharvest loss is also important. In order to reduce postharvest loss of brinjal, farmers in the survey areas are habituated with a number of postharvest practices including cleaning, sorting, grading, packaging and preserving. Full damages and partial damages of brinjal constitute total postharvest loss of brinjal in the survey areas. Sorting and grading were the stages when maximum share of postharvest loss of brinjal due to full damages occurred. In order to help farmer to reduce postharvest loss government and private organization should come forward to establish postharvest storage facilities of vegetables including brinjal in urgent basis. It is also necessary to monitor the price of brinjal between farm gate and terminal market.

Knowledge Management: Journal