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Technical and Economic Feasibility of Improved Postharvest Management Practices in Enhancing the Eggplant Value Chain of Bangladesh

MA Rahman
Postharvest Technology Section, Horticulture Research Centre, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh

M Islam
Regional Agricultural Research Station, BARI, Jessore, Bangladesh

MM Begum
Tuber Crop Research Centre, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh

S Arfin
Postharvest Technology Section, Horticulture Research Centre, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A study was carried out to evaluate the suitability and effectiveness of improved postharvest management practices (IPMP) in enhancing the eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) value chain of Bangladesh. In IPMP, sorting, grading and washing of eggplants were done, and packed them in plastic crates with or without modified atmosphere packaging (MAP). Traditional postharvest management practices (TPMP) existed in the value chain was used as control treatment. IPMP including the use of plastic crate with MAP reduced weight losses by 26.7 and 38.0% at wholesale and 2-days display at retail outlets. The total postharvest loss of eggplant handled with TPMP including packed in jute sack was 40.0%, whereas it was only 4.5% when followed IPMP. The reduction of postharvest losses of eggplants handled with IPMP amounted to 88.7%, and 100.0% fruit could be sold at retail outlets. The additional weekly gross income of a small trader by selling 1000 kg eggplant handled with IPMP comprising the plastic crates with MA packaging would be BDT 17,190 (USD 207).

Keywords: Eggplant, Postharvest, Packaging, Value Chain,

Location: Postharvest Technology Section, Horticulture Research Centre, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Postharvest and Agro-processing

Commodity: Brinjal

Objectives:

To determine the suitability and effectiveness of Improved Postharvest Management Practices ( IPMP) in enhancing eggplant value chains.

Methodology:

The experiment was conducted with eggplants cv. ‘Chaga’. Eggplants were collected directly from the farmers from a local assemble market of Jessore and divided into two lots; one for existing practices followed by the traders in a simulated marketing chain and another following improved postharvest management practices. For traditional postharvest management practices (TPMP), sorting, grading and washing were not done. Eggplants were directly packed in jute sacks of 100 kg capacity and sealed with nylon string. On the other hand, improved postharvest practices including sorting, grading and washing with clean potable water were done in improved postharvest management practices (IPMP), and packed in 20 kg capacity stackable plastic creates with or without modified atmosphere packaging (MAP). Polyethylene of 30µ thickness with 1% perforation was used as MAP. The eggplants were then loaded in a 12-ton truck together with other commercial loaded vegetables and started to transport in the evening (6:00 pm) of the same day and reached Vogra wholesale market at Gazipur about 8:00 pm of the following day. Distance from Jessore to Gazipur is 250 km. After collecting the necessary data at wholesale market, the produces were brought to the postharvest laboratory of Horticulture Research Centre of BARI using a pick up van. The eggplants were evaluated at the laboratory, where a thorough evaluation of the recovery of good quality (sound), mechanically damaged and unmarketable fruits from the top, middle and bottom portions of the three types of containers. After evaluation, 50 sample eggplants were randomly taken from the top, middle and bottom portions of each container, were placed in separate plastic crates and distributed to three retail outlets of Gazipur wet vegetable market. Another 50 eggplants were randomly taken from different portions of each container were left in the laboratory also for daily evaluation. Both in the TPMP and IPMP, there were three plastic crates with each crate having 50 eggplants that was considered as a replication. Each eggplant in a crate was evaluated daily during the 2-day retail period under ambient condition (25-28oC, 80- 85% RH). Data were collected every day on weight loss, mechanical damage and decay caused by pathogens. Eggplants were evaluated individually as to the severity of mechanical damage as follows: 1-sound (no damage), 2-slight, 3- moderate, and 4-severe. Fruits with evident compression damage and bruising/abrasion were classified as moderately damaged, and those with cracks as severely damaged were considered unmarketable. The change in the external appearance of the eggplant, which affects marketability was also monitored daily during the 2-day retail period. The collected data were analyzed to calculate the loss in the whole supply chain. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete design (RCD) with three replications. The collected data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using ‘R’ Statistical Software version 3.1.2. The results showing significant differences were then subjected to mean separation using LSD test at P < 0.05.

Source of Information: Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 9(2): 35-41, December 2019

Article Link (Online Journal): DOI: https://doi.org/10.3329/ijarit.v9i2.45408

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Findings of the present study revealed that the main causes of postharvest loss amounting to 40% were due to weight loss, fruit cracks and compression damage obtained in the jute sacks when followed TPMP. The integration of IPMP including the use of stackable plastic crates with MA packaging was more profitable that resulted in 88.7% reduction in loss by preventing the transpiration and mechanical damage, and 100% eggplants could be sold at retail outlets. Thus, the existing value chain system of eggplant in Bangladesh could be improved by intervening of improved postharvest management practices including sorting, grading, washing and use of stackable plastic crates as packaging container in order to reduce high postharvest loss and retain produce quality, its marketability and profitability.

Knowledge Management: Journal