Postharvest Loss Assessment of Commercial Horticultural Crops in South Wollo, Ethiopia “Challenges and Opportunities”

Abstract

Postharvest losses assessment of horticultural crops in south wollo, at two districts were investigated using data from220 farmers and 80 traders. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and focus group discussion. The results revealed that the performance of using irrigation water is very interesting (96.4% of respondents) but there is shortage of irrigation water (21.8%). The problem of pest and disease is one of the major production-limiting factors as replied by most of respondents (44.8%) and the problem is severe during winter. The major causes of postharvest losses as replied by the respondents are preharvest infection (46.4%) and others (25%) replied both infection and injury. The general postharvest losses of commodities as replied by the producers is estimated as <5% (50% of respondents) 5-10% (34.1% of respondents) and 10-20% (13.2% of respondents). The losses of individual crops at different stages of handling (farmers level, transportation and storage) is summarized as banana (1.5%,1.2% and 4.5%), orange (3.04%,1.2% and 3.6%), mango (1.6%,1% and 3.7%), papaya (1.5%,1% and 3.3%), tomato (2.5%, 2.5% and 5.9%), onion (3.3%,1.1% and 3.7%), cabbage (4.3%, 2.8% and 4.2%) and carrot (2.8%, 1.2% and 3.8%). Awareness creation about the amount of losses, criteria to be used during selection and other postharvest principles and operations should be given due emphasis to minimize the postharvest losses of perishable horticultural commodities.

Key words : Postharvest, horticulture , losses, value chain