Dr. Md. Ayub Hossain
Principal Scientific Officer
Farm Machinery and Postharvest Process Engineering Division
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute
Joydebpur, Gazipur-1701
Dr. M. A. Monayem Miah
Senior Scientific Officer
Agricultural Economics Division
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute
Joydebpur, Gazipur-1701
Six major potato growing districts namely Comilla, Jessore, Munshiganj, Bogra, Rajshahi and Thakurgaon were selected for this study. A total of 940 respondents (Farmers, cold storage managers, traders and consumers) were randomly selected for collecting primary data. Average harvesting loss was found to be 5.65%. Home storage loss for three months storage period was 7.35%. The average loss in cold storage during nine months storage period was 3.82%. Two different types of potato marketing systems were identified for home stored and cold stored potatoes. The average losses at traders’ level for home and cold stored potatoes were 11.95 and 9.61%, respectively. Household and restaurant levels losses were 3.24, and 4.52%, respectively. Total postharvest losses of home stored and cold storage stored potatoes were 31.48% and 25.59%, respectively. The estimated maximum, minimum and mean technical efficiencies of cold storages were 99, 73 and 91%, respectively. Electricity supply and relative humidity inside the store were positive and significant at 5% level. The coefficient of the type of power supply and age of cold storage had some positive effects on the inefficiency model but these were found insignificant.
Cold storgae, potato, postharvest loss, storage, technical efficiency
Jessore, Comilla, Munshogonj, Rajshahi, Bogra, Thakurgaon
Postharvest and Agro-processing
1. To find out different storage systems of potato in Bangladesh
2. To quantify post-harvest losses of potato at different post-harvest operations and to estimate coefficient of factors responsible for post-harvest losses
3. To measure the technical efficiency of different potato storage systems
4. To make some policy guidelines for reducing post-harvest losses and to improve storage systems of potato for food security.
Six major potato growing districts namely Jessore, Comilla, Munshigonj, Bogra, Rajshahi and Thakurgaon were selected for this study. Some data on total land area, cultivated land area, population, number of farm holdings, cropping intensity, potato area and potato production. Two upazillas from each district including sadar upazilla were selected for field data collection.
A total of 940 respondents were randomly selected for collecting primary data and information for the present study. The sample size of each respondent group was sufficient to represent the population of this respondent. For convenient equal sample size was taken from each of the study area but they were statistically representative of the highest and the lowest group of populations. Among total respondents, a total of 300 potato farmers (taking 25 farmers from each upazilla) were selected for interview irrespective of farm size. A total of 40 cold storage managers were interviewed taking 6 to 8 managers from each district. On the other hand, a total of 360 potato traders taking 60 Beparis (big trader), 60 Farias (petty trader), 60 Aratdar (commission agent), 60 Paikers (wholesaler), and 120 retailers were interviewed for gathering data and information regarding potato marketing and post-harvest losses. Interviews were also held with potato consumers both at household level and restaurant level. Hence, 120 potato consumers at household level and another 120 consumers at restaurant owners/managers (taking 20 from each upazilla), were selected and interviewed for the study.
In this study, postharvest losses of potato from different stakeholders were estimated quantatively. Interview is the accurate method of estimation of postharvest loss of potato for such big sizes of samples and various stakeholders. Secondary data were gathered from BBS, journal articles, research reports, and internet etc. Metrological data were received from the Metrological Stations from relevant districts or nearby districts.
Research Report
680200
• Average harvesting loss was found to be 5.65%.
• Home storage loss for three months storage period was 7.35%.
• The average loss in cold storage during nine months storage period was 3.82%.
• Two different types of potato marketing systems were identified for home stored and cold stored potatoes.
• The average losses at traders’ level for home and cold stored potatoes were 11.95 and 9.61%, respectively.
• Household and restaurant levels losses were 3.24, and 4.52%, respectively.
• Total postharvest losses of home stored and cold storage stored potatoes were 31.48% and 25.59%, respectively.
• The estimated maximum, minimum and mean technical efficiencies of cold storages were 99, 73 and 91%, respectively.
Journal, Report/Proceedings