K C Roy
Chief Scientific Officer
Farm machinery and Postharvest Process Engineering Division
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute
Joydebpur, Gazipur-1701
M Nurul Amin
Scientific Officer
Farm machinery and Postharvest Process Engineering Division
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute
Joydebpur, Gazipur-1701
M A Matin
Scientific Officer
Farm machinery and Postharvest Process Engineering Division
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute
Joydebpur, Gazipur-1701
In Bangladesh, a substantial amount of tomato is lost during transportation because of poor packaging. Late tomato is sold at higher price. Therefore, the price of wasted tomato is very high. Therefore, an adaptive research study was undertaken to reduce the long distance transport loss of tomato by using suitable packages. Late season tomatoes, produced in Dinajpur (Roma VF variety) and Panchagarh (Suraksha variety) districts, were transported to Dhaka. Three types of packages, namely bamboo baskets, wooden boxes, and plastic crates were used for packaging in Dinajpur. Packaging and transportation costs were 2.31, 2.83 and 2.24 Tk/kg for wooden box and plastic crate, respectively. Plastic crate was the best package in respect of packaging and transportation cost and ease of handling. The plastic crate contained on an average 26 kg tomatoes, which was suitable for easy handling by a person. Among two varieties, Roma performed better in respect of transportation loss which was only 2.2%, whereas that for Suraksha was 13% due to packing of matured tomatoes. NCDP farmers Marketing Group, Panchagarh site established a marketing channel with Proshika and wholesaler of Kawranbazar, Dhaka during the study and made a net profit of Tk 50, 582 in four consignments.
CFB, package, plastic crate, transport loss, tomato, wooden box.
Gazipur, Panchagarh, Dinajpur
Postharvest and Agro-processing
To reduce the long distance transport loss of tomato using suitable packing system.
Packaging: Wooden boxes were made with a rigid shape, lightweight, and with ventilation apertures to minimize heating. For convenience, a packing case should not hold more than 30 kg for good handling by a person. Smooth surfaced wood should be selected for wooden boxes in order to avoid bruising.
CFB containers, commonly called cartons, have been widely adopted for packing fruits and vegetables. While relatively high cost of wooden crates has been a major factor in the change over to CFB, there have been other advantages. Since the inside walls of cartons are smoother, there is less damage to their contents, and less need for paper lining or individual wrapper. In most tropical conditions, waterproof CFB and flue may be indispensable.
Sacks are still very much in use. They are recognized as a modest pack, which results in much damage. Handling workers are always tempted to throw sacks, and if they are too big and heavy for this, the bottom layer of produce is frequently crushed by the weight above.
Transportation: Mechanical hazards can be defined as those caused by impact, vibration, compression and puncturing. Impact damage is likely if packages are carelessly dropped or thrown. The fruits inside move around, and friction between fruit and package leads to bruising. To reduce the effect on the produce, the package should immobilize and spread the load on individual pieces and provide cushioning. Adverse effects of vibration include abrasion due to the motion of the produce relative to the package and other produce, which can be reduced by the resistant and support of individual pieces. Compression damage may arise during the staking of packages.
Report
(i) Plastic crate was found suitable package in respect of packaging and transportation cost and ease of handling
(ii)Packaging and transportation costs were 2.31, 2.83 and 2.24 Tk/kg for wooden box and plastic crate, respectively
(iii) Roma variety of tomato performed better in respect of transportation loss which was only 2.2%, whereas that for Suraksha was 13% due to packing of matured tomatoes.
(iv) Late tomato was found promising and high value crops in Dinajpur and Panchagarh districts.
Report/Proceedings