Part 1 of 2. The objectives of the study were 1) to systematically assess and characterize postha... more Part 1 of 2. The objectives of the study were 1) to systematically assess and characterize postharvest losses for key horticultural crops in four countries using field based measurements at the farm, wholesale and retail markets, to increase the knowledge base and identify priority postharvest problems that currently limit market access for small farmers and rural marketers, 2) to identify and field test postharvest technology options that could solve priority postharvest problems by conducting field trials in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, and 3) to identify postharvest technology interventions that would specifically address the identified priority problems and serve to reduce food and value losses, and that are of appropriate scale, cost effective, easy to use on a trial basis and capable of generating increased incomes by at least 30% for small farmers. A series of comprehensive postharvest assessments were undertaken in Ghana, Rwanda, Benin and India during 2009 to identify the % physical losses, quality changes and economic value of losses for 16 different crops. Based upon these assessments, supplemented by interviews of various players along the value chains, primary causes and sources of postharvest losses and quality problems were identified. Sampling, objective and subjective measurement of physical losses and quality parameters were conducted at the farm, wholesale and retail markets in each of the four countries by trained data collectors housed at 10 partner institutions. Ten (10) random samples were collected at each of the 3 levels of the value chain for each crop. Tomatoes were assessed in all 4 countries, mangoes in 3 countries, and other crops in one or two countries each. Sample sizes and quality parameters varied by crop type. Sorting was done to determine overall quality, % damaged, % decayed and % with other defects within each sample. Rating scales were developed for visually assessing quality, color changes, stage of ripeness, and degree of package protection. Objective measurements of firmness, SSC%, air temperature, pulp temperature and % RH were made using hand held tools in the field. Postharvest losses were related to one or more of 4 major factors: 1) high temperatures, 2) poor quality packages, 3) poor field sanitation and 4) time required to reach the market.
Abstract Fresh horticultural commodities are important food items, as they provide the consumer w... more Abstract Fresh horticultural commodities are important food items, as they provide the consumer with many and diverse dietary components such as carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, and hundreds of phytochemicals of great importance for health and nutrition. However, great quantities are lost and wasted, which not only translates to losses of food and nutrition, but also of natural resources used to produce and handle these commodities, such as land, water, chemicals, energy and labor, among others. In addition the losses and waste of these commodities contribute significantly to generated environmental problems, including the production of greenhouse gases. Postharvest losses and waste (PHLW) of perishable horticultural commodities are high all over the world, but especially in developing countries. PHLW are estimated at up to 60% depending on the commodity, the season, and the production region. Minimizing PHLW can be an effective way to increase food availability in the food system, likely resulting in reduced food insecurity, better nutrition, improved grower and handler's income, and reduced wasting of several resources such as land, water, chemicals, energy, etc. For the reduction of PHLW, it is necessary to optimize the operations along the value chain of these commodities, in addition to better cooperation and effective communication among all the research, extension, and industry personnel involved. In particular, postharvest horticulturists need to coordinate their efforts with those of production horticulturists, agricultural marketing economists, engineers, food technologists, and others who may be involved in various aspects of the production, processing, and marketing systems, as well as those who plan infrastructure development in rural and urban areas. This chapter will review the magnitude of the PHLW for horticultural food commodities, the significance of these losses and waste, and the different dimensions of the causes that explain their persistent high rates, as well as suggest means to reduce them.
Reducing postharvest losses (PHLs) of food crops is a critical component of sustainably increasin... more Reducing postharvest losses (PHLs) of food crops is a critical component of sustainably increasing agricultural productivity. Many PHL reduction interventions have been tested, but synthesized information to support evidence-based investments and policy is scarce. In this study, PHL reduction interventions for 22 crops across 57 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia from the 1970s to 2019 were systematically reviewed. Screening of the 12,907 studies identified resulted in a collection of 334 studies, which were used to synthesize the evidence and construct an online open-access database, searchable by crop, country, postharvest activity and intervention type. Storage technology interventions mainly targeting farmers dominated (83% of the studies). Maize was the most studied crop (25%). India had the most studies (32%), while 25 countries had no studies. This analysis indicates an urgent need for a systematic assessment of interventions across the entire value chain over multiple seasons and sites, targeting stakeholders beyond farmers. The lack of studies on training, finance, infrastructure, policy and market interventions highlights the need for interventions beyond technologies or handling practice changes. Additionally, more studies are needed connecting the impact of PHL reductions to social, economic and environmental outcomes related to Sustainable Development Goals. This analysis provides decision makers with data for informed policy formulation and prioritization of investments in PHL reduction. Articles NATuRE SuSTAINABILITy producers and associated value-chain actors to reduce PHLs is vital for evidence-based decision-making. results Only 334 of the 12,907 studies (2.6%) identified for the 22 food crops across 57 countries of SSA and South Asia met the inclusion criteria (Box 1 and Extended Data Fig. 1). Outline of the evidence. The 334 included studies came from a wide range of sources, with the majority (85.9%) being journal papers. The earliest articles were published in 1971, and 42.2% were published in the past decade (Fig. 1a). India accounted for 32.2% of the articles, while for 25 countries there were no studies that met the inclusion criteria (Fig. 1b and Extended Data Fig. 2). Studies on maize dominated (24.9%) (Fig. 1c), and, when aggregated by crop group, legumes were the least studied (7.8%) (Fig. 1d). When grouped by postharvest activity stages, studies on storage interventions for dry and fresh forms of the crops dominated, each accounting for 42.5% and 40.1% of the studies, respectively (Fig. 1e). Most of the studies (91.0%) focused on postharvest interventions that small-scale producers could use to reduce losses. Studies of loss-reduction interventions for use by traders, transporters or other food-system actors were limited. On-farm/field trials made up 34.1% of the studies. Surveys accounted for 8.1%, and 57.8% were research station trials. More detailed descriptive statistics of the evidence can be found in Supplementary Box 1. Overview of postharvest interventions studied. Cereals had attracted the most study of PHL reduction interventions (43.3%), particularly maize (25.8%) (Fig. 2). Root and tuber crops followed (19.9%), principally potato in India. Next were fruits (19.2%), particularly citrus and mango in India. The vegetable interventions (10.7%) focused on onion or tomato, mainly in India. Legumes had the fewest interventions studied (6.8%). Geographically, SSA accounted for 55.0% of the interventions studied. The most interventions had been studied in India (34.6%), with a focus on potato, citrus, onion, mango, rice, wheat, banana and tomato. Within SSA, 54.9% of the interventions were on cereals, 19.9% on root and tuber crops, 11.5% on legumes, 7.5% on fruits and 6.2% on vegetables. The PHL reduction interventions studied were aggregated using a four-tier hierarchical system, with the first tier being the intervention type (technology/tool/equipment, handling practice change, training/extension, finance, policy, markets, support or infrastructure). The second tier was the intervention stage, grouped into typical postharvest stages (such as harvesting, drying and storage), and tier 3 was the specific interventions (such as zero-energy cool chamber or traditional granary plus synthetic chemical; for the full list, see Supplementary Table 3). The details of each intervention were provided in tier 4 (for example, the name and application rate of the agricultural chemical or the size of the box). The analysis of the 334 studies by intervention type (tier 1) highlights the dominance of studies on tangible technologies, tools or equipment (88.3% of studies, 89.0% of interventions). There were far fewer studies on handling practices (14.1%, 10.5%), training (0.6%, 0.3%) and infrastructure (0.3%, 0.1%). None were on policy, finance, markets or support/organization (Fig. 3).
Informal research and development (R & D) is defined as any small-scale, decentralized agricultur... more Informal research and development (R & D) is defined as any small-scale, decentralized agricultural or extension education program that involves the population of learners in the process of planning, implementation, and evaluation of a learning process. It involves simple experimentation with potential solutions to common problems. The presence of a professional trained in informal R & D methodologies can facilitate each step in the informal R & D model. Tnformal R & D promotes several concepts of prime concern to international educators aad development experts, including active participation of the local population, focus of teaching/learning content, respect for indigenous agricultural knowledge and skills, and the possibility of development leading to political empowerment and to demands for change in the distribution of power within society. The many roles that an agricultural or extension educator must be prepared to play under these circumstances can be grouped within five broad categories. Roles in the initial planning stage include those of the researcher, collaborator, and consultant. During implementation, the educator's roles include facilitator, resource person, consultant, and instructor. A key role during evaluation is to guide the process. Professional educators must also report results and serve as trainers. (25 references.) (YLB)
In today’s competitive global agricultural market it takes more than knowing how to effectively p... more In today’s competitive global agricultural market it takes more than knowing how to effectively produce crops to succeed in business. Marketing fruits and vegetables at acceptable profit margins may involve timing the market either early or late in the season, to receive higher prices. Many producers undertake the strategy of trying to be the first grower/shipper to market product when prices are high and customer demand is strong. To execute this strategy special cultivars of fruits and vegetables have been developed by plant breeders and seed companies to mature very early in the season and allow grower/shippers to capitalize using this marketing stategy. Marketing produce late in the season or during the off-season is achieved by utilizing appropriate postharvest handling technologies. These technologies if used properly not only extend the marketable shelf life of fresh fruits and vegetables but allow grower/shippers marketing opportunities such as:
The research experiment was carried out on "Effect of multimicronutrient on fruit quality and she... more The research experiment was carried out on "Effect of multimicronutrient on fruit quality and shelf life of aonla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) cv. Gujarat Aonla-1". The experiment was conducted during kharif-Rabi season of the year 2017-18 at Horticultural Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, B. A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand. There were three levels of soil application of multimicronutrient (Grade-V) viz., S 1-Control, S 2-250 g/tree and S 3-500 g/tree and three levels of foliar application of multimicronutrient (Grade-IV) viz., F 1-Control, F 2-1 % spray and F 3-2 % spray. Multimicronutrient (Grade-V) was given as soil application at onset of monsoon and multimicronutrient (Grade-IV) was foliar sprayed at pin head and pea stage. Among all the treatments, F 2 (1 % spray of multimicronutrient Grade-IV) treatment was most effective treatment and which was recorded significantly maximum total soluble solids, shelf life, ascorbic acid and minimum acidity and internal necrosis affected fruits. There were nonsignificant effect of soil application of multimicronutrient (Grade-V) on total soluble solids (TSS), acidity and shelf life whereas, there were significant effect of soil application of multimicronutrient (Grade-V) on ascorbic acid and internal necrosis affected fruits. Among all the treatments, S 3 (500 g/tree multimicronutrient Grade-V) treatment was recorded significantly maximum ascorbic acid and minimum internal necrosis affected fruits.
Agricultu: 1 and extension educators interested in international agricultural development must an... more Agricultu: 1 and extension educators interested in international agricultural development must answer several questions to become oriented within the field before undertaking an international assignment. The questions are as follows: (1) why do you want to work internationally? (2) what do you have to offer as a professional? and (3) what is your personal philosophy concerning agricultural developMent? Educators who are interested and committed to working internationally must determine which institutions, organizations, and agencies are doing what in agricultural or extension education. They should prepare by studying the culture, language, and history of the region. Perhaps the most important activity is networking with personal, professional, and academic acquaintances. Aftet getting a job and a destination, the educator should prepare to ease the transition by learning to know the other culture, getting to know the facts about the country, getting to know the subject, learning some basics about the language, involving the family, and preparing for travel. Keys to success on the job are communication, flexibility, adoption of the extension philosophy that efforts should be *relevant to the recipient of the aid, and awareness of the inevitability of culture shock. To make tAe return easier, the educator should keep in touch while overseas and anticipate returning. (22 references.) (YLB)
Amaranth is a leafy vegetable with high nutrient content which is sensitive to temperature and lo... more Amaranth is a leafy vegetable with high nutrient content which is sensitive to temperature and low relative humidity. Delays in shipment to market may result in significant losses, therefore improved packaging to minimize mechanical damage and reduce moisture loss are desirable. Amaranth was stored in three types of consumer packages, bunches, clamshells and thin plastic bags, within vented plastic crates. Pallet loads were either covered with insulated material or not, while awaiting transportation. Results indicated covering pallets improved the color and overall quality while reducing weight loss and wilting. Covered crates had a "good" (7.6/9.0) overall quality while uncovered averaged 5.5/9.0 or "moderate" quality. There were significant differences in consumer package type, with the bagged amaranth having almost "excellent" quality (8.8/9.0) compared to "good-fair" quality in clamshells (6.2/9.0) and "poor-fair" quality in the control bunches (4.7/9.0). Amaranth stored in thin plastic bags was better in quality and color, with less weight loss and wilting, however, temperatures at the end of six hours of storage were higher and this may lead to microbial growth. Storage of amaranth in thin bags or clamshell packages, within plastic crates covered with insulated pallet covers while awaiting shipping resulted in improved overall quality and color.
Maize is the third most important cereal and staple globally. Poor agricultural policies and fund... more Maize is the third most important cereal and staple globally. Poor agricultural policies and funding are the major problems of agriculture in Nigeria. This work was aimed at studying maize postharvest losses through identification of causes and sources. Data were gathered via Commodity Systems Assessment Methodology which includes 26 components, structured interviews and protocols for measuring quantity, quality and economic losses. Information on marketing, storage, handling, production and pre-production was obtained through interviews, observations, measurements and literature. Results of the study showed that cultural practices for maize vary from region to region and this affects the quality and quantity of maize. Poor quality seeds and fertilization have effects on the quality of the harvested crop. Maize is sundried on farm prior to sale. Quality and cob size affect farm gate prices. Farmers were unaware of postharvest losses because the harvested crop was not sorted before s...
A pilot Postharvest Training and Services Center (PTSC) was launched in October 2012 in Arusha, T... more A pilot Postharvest Training and Services Center (PTSC) was launched in October 2012 in Arusha, Tanzania as part of a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded project. The five key components of the PTSC are (1) training of postharvest trainers, (2) postharvest training and demonstrations for local small-scale clientele, (3) adaptive research, (4) postharvest services, and (5) retail sales of postharvest tools and supplies. During the years of 2011-2012, a one year e-learning program was provided to 36 young horticultural professionals from seven Sub-Saharan African countries. These postharvest specialists went on to train more than 13,000 local farmers, extension workers, food processors, and marketers in their home countries in the year following completion of their course. Evaluators found that these specialists had trained an additional 9300 people by November 2014. When asked about adoption by their local trainees, 79% reported examples of their trainees using improved postharvest practices. From 2012-2013, the project supported 30 multi-day training programs, and the evaluation found that many of the improved practices being promoted were adopted by the trainees and led to increased earnings. Three PTSC components still require attention. Research activities initiated during the project are incomplete, and successful sales of postharvest goods and services will require commitment and improved partnering.
Part 1 of 2. The objectives of the study were 1) to systematically assess and characterize postha... more Part 1 of 2. The objectives of the study were 1) to systematically assess and characterize postharvest losses for key horticultural crops in four countries using field based measurements at the farm, wholesale and retail markets, to increase the knowledge base and identify priority postharvest problems that currently limit market access for small farmers and rural marketers, 2) to identify and field test postharvest technology options that could solve priority postharvest problems by conducting field trials in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, and 3) to identify postharvest technology interventions that would specifically address the identified priority problems and serve to reduce food and value losses, and that are of appropriate scale, cost effective, easy to use on a trial basis and capable of generating increased incomes by at least 30% for small farmers. A series of comprehensive postharvest assessments were undertaken in Ghana, Rwanda, Benin and India during 2009 to identify the % physical losses, quality changes and economic value of losses for 16 different crops. Based upon these assessments, supplemented by interviews of various players along the value chains, primary causes and sources of postharvest losses and quality problems were identified. Sampling, objective and subjective measurement of physical losses and quality parameters were conducted at the farm, wholesale and retail markets in each of the four countries by trained data collectors housed at 10 partner institutions. Ten (10) random samples were collected at each of the 3 levels of the value chain for each crop. Tomatoes were assessed in all 4 countries, mangoes in 3 countries, and other crops in one or two countries each. Sample sizes and quality parameters varied by crop type. Sorting was done to determine overall quality, % damaged, % decayed and % with other defects within each sample. Rating scales were developed for visually assessing quality, color changes, stage of ripeness, and degree of package protection. Objective measurements of firmness, SSC%, air temperature, pulp temperature and % RH were made using hand held tools in the field. Postharvest losses were related to one or more of 4 major factors: 1) high temperatures, 2) poor quality packages, 3) poor field sanitation and 4) time required to reach the market.
Abstract Fresh horticultural commodities are important food items, as they provide the consumer w... more Abstract Fresh horticultural commodities are important food items, as they provide the consumer with many and diverse dietary components such as carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, and hundreds of phytochemicals of great importance for health and nutrition. However, great quantities are lost and wasted, which not only translates to losses of food and nutrition, but also of natural resources used to produce and handle these commodities, such as land, water, chemicals, energy and labor, among others. In addition the losses and waste of these commodities contribute significantly to generated environmental problems, including the production of greenhouse gases. Postharvest losses and waste (PHLW) of perishable horticultural commodities are high all over the world, but especially in developing countries. PHLW are estimated at up to 60% depending on the commodity, the season, and the production region. Minimizing PHLW can be an effective way to increase food availability in the food system, likely resulting in reduced food insecurity, better nutrition, improved grower and handler's income, and reduced wasting of several resources such as land, water, chemicals, energy, etc. For the reduction of PHLW, it is necessary to optimize the operations along the value chain of these commodities, in addition to better cooperation and effective communication among all the research, extension, and industry personnel involved. In particular, postharvest horticulturists need to coordinate their efforts with those of production horticulturists, agricultural marketing economists, engineers, food technologists, and others who may be involved in various aspects of the production, processing, and marketing systems, as well as those who plan infrastructure development in rural and urban areas. This chapter will review the magnitude of the PHLW for horticultural food commodities, the significance of these losses and waste, and the different dimensions of the causes that explain their persistent high rates, as well as suggest means to reduce them.
Reducing postharvest losses (PHLs) of food crops is a critical component of sustainably increasin... more Reducing postharvest losses (PHLs) of food crops is a critical component of sustainably increasing agricultural productivity. Many PHL reduction interventions have been tested, but synthesized information to support evidence-based investments and policy is scarce. In this study, PHL reduction interventions for 22 crops across 57 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia from the 1970s to 2019 were systematically reviewed. Screening of the 12,907 studies identified resulted in a collection of 334 studies, which were used to synthesize the evidence and construct an online open-access database, searchable by crop, country, postharvest activity and intervention type. Storage technology interventions mainly targeting farmers dominated (83% of the studies). Maize was the most studied crop (25%). India had the most studies (32%), while 25 countries had no studies. This analysis indicates an urgent need for a systematic assessment of interventions across the entire value chain over multiple seasons and sites, targeting stakeholders beyond farmers. The lack of studies on training, finance, infrastructure, policy and market interventions highlights the need for interventions beyond technologies or handling practice changes. Additionally, more studies are needed connecting the impact of PHL reductions to social, economic and environmental outcomes related to Sustainable Development Goals. This analysis provides decision makers with data for informed policy formulation and prioritization of investments in PHL reduction. Articles NATuRE SuSTAINABILITy producers and associated value-chain actors to reduce PHLs is vital for evidence-based decision-making. results Only 334 of the 12,907 studies (2.6%) identified for the 22 food crops across 57 countries of SSA and South Asia met the inclusion criteria (Box 1 and Extended Data Fig. 1). Outline of the evidence. The 334 included studies came from a wide range of sources, with the majority (85.9%) being journal papers. The earliest articles were published in 1971, and 42.2% were published in the past decade (Fig. 1a). India accounted for 32.2% of the articles, while for 25 countries there were no studies that met the inclusion criteria (Fig. 1b and Extended Data Fig. 2). Studies on maize dominated (24.9%) (Fig. 1c), and, when aggregated by crop group, legumes were the least studied (7.8%) (Fig. 1d). When grouped by postharvest activity stages, studies on storage interventions for dry and fresh forms of the crops dominated, each accounting for 42.5% and 40.1% of the studies, respectively (Fig. 1e). Most of the studies (91.0%) focused on postharvest interventions that small-scale producers could use to reduce losses. Studies of loss-reduction interventions for use by traders, transporters or other food-system actors were limited. On-farm/field trials made up 34.1% of the studies. Surveys accounted for 8.1%, and 57.8% were research station trials. More detailed descriptive statistics of the evidence can be found in Supplementary Box 1. Overview of postharvest interventions studied. Cereals had attracted the most study of PHL reduction interventions (43.3%), particularly maize (25.8%) (Fig. 2). Root and tuber crops followed (19.9%), principally potato in India. Next were fruits (19.2%), particularly citrus and mango in India. The vegetable interventions (10.7%) focused on onion or tomato, mainly in India. Legumes had the fewest interventions studied (6.8%). Geographically, SSA accounted for 55.0% of the interventions studied. The most interventions had been studied in India (34.6%), with a focus on potato, citrus, onion, mango, rice, wheat, banana and tomato. Within SSA, 54.9% of the interventions were on cereals, 19.9% on root and tuber crops, 11.5% on legumes, 7.5% on fruits and 6.2% on vegetables. The PHL reduction interventions studied were aggregated using a four-tier hierarchical system, with the first tier being the intervention type (technology/tool/equipment, handling practice change, training/extension, finance, policy, markets, support or infrastructure). The second tier was the intervention stage, grouped into typical postharvest stages (such as harvesting, drying and storage), and tier 3 was the specific interventions (such as zero-energy cool chamber or traditional granary plus synthetic chemical; for the full list, see Supplementary Table 3). The details of each intervention were provided in tier 4 (for example, the name and application rate of the agricultural chemical or the size of the box). The analysis of the 334 studies by intervention type (tier 1) highlights the dominance of studies on tangible technologies, tools or equipment (88.3% of studies, 89.0% of interventions). There were far fewer studies on handling practices (14.1%, 10.5%), training (0.6%, 0.3%) and infrastructure (0.3%, 0.1%). None were on policy, finance, markets or support/organization (Fig. 3).
Informal research and development (R & D) is defined as any small-scale, decentralized agricultur... more Informal research and development (R & D) is defined as any small-scale, decentralized agricultural or extension education program that involves the population of learners in the process of planning, implementation, and evaluation of a learning process. It involves simple experimentation with potential solutions to common problems. The presence of a professional trained in informal R & D methodologies can facilitate each step in the informal R & D model. Tnformal R & D promotes several concepts of prime concern to international educators aad development experts, including active participation of the local population, focus of teaching/learning content, respect for indigenous agricultural knowledge and skills, and the possibility of development leading to political empowerment and to demands for change in the distribution of power within society. The many roles that an agricultural or extension educator must be prepared to play under these circumstances can be grouped within five broad categories. Roles in the initial planning stage include those of the researcher, collaborator, and consultant. During implementation, the educator's roles include facilitator, resource person, consultant, and instructor. A key role during evaluation is to guide the process. Professional educators must also report results and serve as trainers. (25 references.) (YLB)
In today’s competitive global agricultural market it takes more than knowing how to effectively p... more In today’s competitive global agricultural market it takes more than knowing how to effectively produce crops to succeed in business. Marketing fruits and vegetables at acceptable profit margins may involve timing the market either early or late in the season, to receive higher prices. Many producers undertake the strategy of trying to be the first grower/shipper to market product when prices are high and customer demand is strong. To execute this strategy special cultivars of fruits and vegetables have been developed by plant breeders and seed companies to mature very early in the season and allow grower/shippers to capitalize using this marketing stategy. Marketing produce late in the season or during the off-season is achieved by utilizing appropriate postharvest handling technologies. These technologies if used properly not only extend the marketable shelf life of fresh fruits and vegetables but allow grower/shippers marketing opportunities such as:
The research experiment was carried out on "Effect of multimicronutrient on fruit quality and she... more The research experiment was carried out on "Effect of multimicronutrient on fruit quality and shelf life of aonla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) cv. Gujarat Aonla-1". The experiment was conducted during kharif-Rabi season of the year 2017-18 at Horticultural Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, B. A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand. There were three levels of soil application of multimicronutrient (Grade-V) viz., S 1-Control, S 2-250 g/tree and S 3-500 g/tree and three levels of foliar application of multimicronutrient (Grade-IV) viz., F 1-Control, F 2-1 % spray and F 3-2 % spray. Multimicronutrient (Grade-V) was given as soil application at onset of monsoon and multimicronutrient (Grade-IV) was foliar sprayed at pin head and pea stage. Among all the treatments, F 2 (1 % spray of multimicronutrient Grade-IV) treatment was most effective treatment and which was recorded significantly maximum total soluble solids, shelf life, ascorbic acid and minimum acidity and internal necrosis affected fruits. There were nonsignificant effect of soil application of multimicronutrient (Grade-V) on total soluble solids (TSS), acidity and shelf life whereas, there were significant effect of soil application of multimicronutrient (Grade-V) on ascorbic acid and internal necrosis affected fruits. Among all the treatments, S 3 (500 g/tree multimicronutrient Grade-V) treatment was recorded significantly maximum ascorbic acid and minimum internal necrosis affected fruits.
Agricultu: 1 and extension educators interested in international agricultural development must an... more Agricultu: 1 and extension educators interested in international agricultural development must answer several questions to become oriented within the field before undertaking an international assignment. The questions are as follows: (1) why do you want to work internationally? (2) what do you have to offer as a professional? and (3) what is your personal philosophy concerning agricultural developMent? Educators who are interested and committed to working internationally must determine which institutions, organizations, and agencies are doing what in agricultural or extension education. They should prepare by studying the culture, language, and history of the region. Perhaps the most important activity is networking with personal, professional, and academic acquaintances. Aftet getting a job and a destination, the educator should prepare to ease the transition by learning to know the other culture, getting to know the facts about the country, getting to know the subject, learning some basics about the language, involving the family, and preparing for travel. Keys to success on the job are communication, flexibility, adoption of the extension philosophy that efforts should be *relevant to the recipient of the aid, and awareness of the inevitability of culture shock. To make tAe return easier, the educator should keep in touch while overseas and anticipate returning. (22 references.) (YLB)
Amaranth is a leafy vegetable with high nutrient content which is sensitive to temperature and lo... more Amaranth is a leafy vegetable with high nutrient content which is sensitive to temperature and low relative humidity. Delays in shipment to market may result in significant losses, therefore improved packaging to minimize mechanical damage and reduce moisture loss are desirable. Amaranth was stored in three types of consumer packages, bunches, clamshells and thin plastic bags, within vented plastic crates. Pallet loads were either covered with insulated material or not, while awaiting transportation. Results indicated covering pallets improved the color and overall quality while reducing weight loss and wilting. Covered crates had a "good" (7.6/9.0) overall quality while uncovered averaged 5.5/9.0 or "moderate" quality. There were significant differences in consumer package type, with the bagged amaranth having almost "excellent" quality (8.8/9.0) compared to "good-fair" quality in clamshells (6.2/9.0) and "poor-fair" quality in the control bunches (4.7/9.0). Amaranth stored in thin plastic bags was better in quality and color, with less weight loss and wilting, however, temperatures at the end of six hours of storage were higher and this may lead to microbial growth. Storage of amaranth in thin bags or clamshell packages, within plastic crates covered with insulated pallet covers while awaiting shipping resulted in improved overall quality and color.
Maize is the third most important cereal and staple globally. Poor agricultural policies and fund... more Maize is the third most important cereal and staple globally. Poor agricultural policies and funding are the major problems of agriculture in Nigeria. This work was aimed at studying maize postharvest losses through identification of causes and sources. Data were gathered via Commodity Systems Assessment Methodology which includes 26 components, structured interviews and protocols for measuring quantity, quality and economic losses. Information on marketing, storage, handling, production and pre-production was obtained through interviews, observations, measurements and literature. Results of the study showed that cultural practices for maize vary from region to region and this affects the quality and quantity of maize. Poor quality seeds and fertilization have effects on the quality of the harvested crop. Maize is sundried on farm prior to sale. Quality and cob size affect farm gate prices. Farmers were unaware of postharvest losses because the harvested crop was not sorted before s...
A pilot Postharvest Training and Services Center (PTSC) was launched in October 2012 in Arusha, T... more A pilot Postharvest Training and Services Center (PTSC) was launched in October 2012 in Arusha, Tanzania as part of a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded project. The five key components of the PTSC are (1) training of postharvest trainers, (2) postharvest training and demonstrations for local small-scale clientele, (3) adaptive research, (4) postharvest services, and (5) retail sales of postharvest tools and supplies. During the years of 2011-2012, a one year e-learning program was provided to 36 young horticultural professionals from seven Sub-Saharan African countries. These postharvest specialists went on to train more than 13,000 local farmers, extension workers, food processors, and marketers in their home countries in the year following completion of their course. Evaluators found that these specialists had trained an additional 9300 people by November 2014. When asked about adoption by their local trainees, 79% reported examples of their trainees using improved postharvest practices. From 2012-2013, the project supported 30 multi-day training programs, and the evaluation found that many of the improved practices being promoted were adopted by the trainees and led to increased earnings. Three PTSC components still require attention. Research activities initiated during the project are incomplete, and successful sales of postharvest goods and services will require commitment and improved partnering.
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