Assessment of post harvest techniques of fruits in Southern province

Abstract

This study was undertaken to assess of Post Harvest Techniques of Fruits in Southern Province. Based on the highest number of acreage selected, two fruit crops were used to study namely, banana and papaya. The main objective of the study was to quantify the post harvest loss of fruits in each level such as, farm gate, whole seller, and retailer and also find out factors affecting those losses. The study was conducted Agunakolapalassa and Barawakumbuka in Southern province. Primary data were gathered through a field survey by interviewing twenty farmers of each fruit crop, fifteen whole sellers and retailers of each fruit crop and twenty consumers of both fruit crops. Secondary data were collected from Government and non government organizations including Hector Kobbakaduwa Research and Training Institute, Industrial Technology Institute and the Department of Census and Statistics. Data revealed that there were few farmers and sellers who adopt special practices for maintaining the keeping quality of fruits. The loss of both banana and papaya at the farm gate was 2.98% and 7.35% respectively. The large amount of fruit waste occured during transportation due to lack of proper packing materials and rough handling.4.7% and 5 .9 % loss banana and papaya at the retailer level due to over maturity and disease infections. Then total post harvest loss of banana was 27.2% and the value of papaya was 44.4%. The valuation of the total loss roughly estimated as Rs.59474 for one month period.