Abstract:
Sri Lankan vegetable sector experience around 34% to 40% of post harvest losses.
Studies have shown that about 75% of post harvest losses are occurred during to
vegetable transport process. Therefore, government is planning to introduce best .
practice guide lines that mainly advice to use plastic crates for transporting
vegetables and also to ban the use of poly-sacs for packing vegetables. However,
only around 15% of vegetable traders follow these best practices. The objectives of
the study were: to examine the conditions of the conventional and modem
marketing practices for vegetables, to analyze the marketing margin, share of
consumer price and post harvest losses of both practices. Primary data were
collected through field survey, informal discussion and field observations.
Study reveals around 75% farmers use the most prominent conventional marketing
channel through farmers, wholesalers, transporters and retailers to consumer based
on Manning Market to sell their harvest. Around 17% of farmers use modem
marketing channel farmers, shop owners at wholesaler and retailer level based on
Economic Centers, to sell their harvest. Study reveals that the highest market
margin remains in transporter level in the conventional channel for Bean (32%),
Brinjal (29), and Tomato (20%). In modem marketing channel, highest market
margin is obtained by shop owner at wholesaler level in economic center for Bean
(25%), Brinjal (30%), and Tomato (26%). Farmers’ Share of consumer price is
higher in modem marketing channel for Bean (55%), Brinjal (55%), and Tomato
(64%). It is also found that average post harvest losses of vegetables in conventional
marketing channel are around 30%. While it is around 20% in the modem
marketing channel. The consumers’ perception regarding the vegetables quality is
significant. Therefore, it is recommended to conduct awareness programs targeting
all stakeholders of the marketing channel. It confirmed that modem marketing
practices reduce post harvest losses and preserve the freshness and quality of
vegetables.
