What are the major causes of postharvest losses?

What are the major causes of postharvest losses?

Mainly, during retailing, rotting, mechanical damage, poor handling, improper management of temperature and relative humidity, and hygiene problems during handling are among the major causes of postharvest losses.

What are the various post-harvest losses?

The expression “post-harvest losses” means a measurable quantitative and qualitative loss in a given product. These losses can occur during any of the various phases of the post-harvest system….

STAGE LOSSES
Harvest 1% 3 %
Handling 2% 7%
Threshing 2 % 6 %
Drying 1% 5 %

What is the percentage of post harvesting losses in grains?

Actual loss Approximately 40% of these losses occur during storage at the farm and market, 30% during processing (drying, threshing, and winnowing), 20% in transport from the field to the homestead/farm, and the remaining 10% during transport to market.

What are the main types of postharvest losses for maize?

The major physiological, physical and environmental causes of post-harvest losses are high crop perishability; mechanical damage; excessive exposure to high ambient temperature, relative humidity and rain; contamination by spoilage fungal and bacteria; invasion by birds, rodents, insects and other pests; and …

How can I reduce my postharvest losses?

6 Tips To Avoid Postharvest Losses

  1. Assess Maturity.
  2. Check Your Water Quality.
  3. Check Your Water Temperature.
  4. Avoid Injury.
  5. Keep Your Produce Cool.
  6. Proper Storage.

What are the common post-harvest losses of perishable crops?

Common causes of postharvest losses are diverse, but the most common are overripening, disease, harvesting when the fruit is too immature, and mechanical damage. Studies of postharvest losses of vegetables identified losses in the range of 20 to 40%. Cabbage losses were amongst the highest, at 20 to 30%.

How do you reduce post-harvest losses?

What is the time for coverage of post-harvest losses?

POST-HARVEST LOSSES (individual farm basis): Coverage is available upto a maximum period of 14 days from harvesting for those crops which are kept in “cut & spread” condition to dry in the field after harvesting, against specific perils of cyclone / cyclonic rains, unseasonal rains throughout the country.

How do you prevent post-harvest losses in maize?

If you store your grains in an environment with high humidity, the moisture content in your grains will increase after some time and your grains can grow mouldy. One of the best ways to ensure that your maize remains at a constant moisture content throughout storage is to store in hermetic bags.

How can we reduce the post-harvest losses of fruits and vegetables?

Packaging materials used in traditional packaging methods may protect fresh fruits and vegetables against external factors at a certain level. Appropriate packaging materials and advanced packaging systems need to be developed to reduce post-harvest losses and increase the shelf life of fresh fruit and vegetables.

What is qualitative postharvest loss?

Definition. The expression “post-harvest losses” means a measurable quantitative and qualitative loss in a given product. These losses can occur during any of the various phases of the post-harvest system. This definition must also take into account cases of product deterioration.

How can we minimize postharvest losses?