Podcast
Questions and Answers
What percentage of production of fruits and vegetables in the country is lost due to wastage and value destruction?
What percentage of production of fruits and vegetables in the country is lost due to wastage and value destruction?
Who reported that post-harvest handling accounts for 20-30% of the losses at different stages?
Who reported that post-harvest handling accounts for 20-30% of the losses at different stages?
What is the estimated yearly cost of wastage due to post-harvest losses?
What is the estimated yearly cost of wastage due to post-harvest losses?
Where do post-harvest losses occur?
Where do post-harvest losses occur?
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What is a major cause of post-harvest losses?
What is a major cause of post-harvest losses?
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Why is it essential to estimate post-harvest losses?
Why is it essential to estimate post-harvest losses?
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What can happen to produce if farmers are unable to transport it to distant locations?
What can happen to produce if farmers are unable to transport it to distant locations?
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What is one of the reasons for post-harvest losses in horticultural crops?
What is one of the reasons for post-harvest losses in horticultural crops?
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Who may be unaware of the importance of packing house operations?
Who may be unaware of the importance of packing house operations?
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What is one of the economic impacts of post-harvest losses?
What is one of the economic impacts of post-harvest losses?
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What is the importance of fruits and vegetables in human nutrition?
What is the importance of fruits and vegetables in human nutrition?
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What is the result of careless harvesting and rough handling of perishable crops?
What is the result of careless harvesting and rough handling of perishable crops?
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What percentage of harvested fruits and vegetables are lost in India according to Chadha (2009)?
What percentage of harvested fruits and vegetables are lost in India according to Chadha (2009)?
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What is the estimated annual loss in Rupees due to post-harvest losses in India?
What is the estimated annual loss in Rupees due to post-harvest losses in India?
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What is the primary reason for post-harvest losses according to the text?
What is the primary reason for post-harvest losses according to the text?
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Which of the following is NOT a major site of post-harvest losses?
Which of the following is NOT a major site of post-harvest losses?
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What is the estimated loss percentage for banana?
What is the estimated loss percentage for banana?
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Why are horticultural crops more prone to post-harvest losses?
Why are horticultural crops more prone to post-harvest losses?
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Study Notes
Post-Harvest Losses: Overview
- Mechanical losses include bruising, cracking, cuts, and microbial spoilage caused by fungi and bacteria.
- Physiological losses involve changes in respiration, transpiration, pigments, organic acids, and flavor.
Extent and Causes of Post-Harvest Losses
- Occur after harvesting, arising from fields, grading, packing areas, storage, transportation, and markets.
- Common causes: poor facilities, lack of expertise, inadequate management, market dysfunction, and farmer carelessness.
- Estimations of post-harvest loss are crucial for increasing food availability from current production levels.
- A joint study by McKinsey and Co. and CII revealed that at least 50% of fruit and vegetable production in India is lost, costing approximately Rs. 23,000 crores annually.
- The Swaminathan Committee (1980) indicated that post-harvest handling leads to 20-30% losses during various stages of the supply chain.
Consumption and Other Contributing Factors
- Inadequate preservation methods at home lead to consumption losses, affected by cooking and preparation methods.
- Other factors include insufficient understanding of packing house operations and lack of awareness among stakeholders.
- Infrastructure deficiencies, delayed recognition of post-harvest importance, insufficient technical support, and poor market facilities contribute to losses.
Impact of Post-Harvest Losses
- Nutrition: Loss of fruits and vegetables decreases the availability of essential vitamins and minerals, impacting overall nutrition quality.
- Economy: Poor harvesting practices result in bruising, lowering product quality and market prices.
- India loses about 35-45% of harvested fruits and vegetables, resulting in financial losses of approximately Rs. 40,000 crores annually.
Important Sites of Losses in India
- Losses at various points: Farmer’s field (15-20%), packaging (15-20%), transportation (30-40%), and marketing (30-40%).
Estimated Loss Percentages for Fruits
- Papaya: 40-100%
- Grape: 27%
- Banana: 20-28%
- Citrus: 20-95%
- Avocado: 43%
- Apple: 14%
Estimated Loss Percentages for Vegetables
- Onion: 25-40%
- Garlic: 8-22%
- Potato: 30-40%
- Tomato: 5-34%
- Chili: 4-35%
- Radish: 3-5%
- Carrot: 7.08-25%
Causes of Post-Harvest Losses
- Horticultural crops are highly perishable due to high moisture content and tender texture, necessitating proper handling to prevent rapid deterioration.
- Fresh horticultural crops continue to respire after harvesting, leading to metabolic losses through the breakdown of food reserves.
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Description
This quiz covers the different types of post-harvest losses in agriculture, including mechanical and physiological losses, and their possible causes. It also explores the extent of these losses during harvesting, transportation, and storage.
