Harvesting, packaging, transportation and marketing of tropical fruits in West Bengal, India: present practice and future needs.

摘要

India is one of the leading producers of tropical and subtropical fruits in the world. India is the largest producer of mango and banana, 2nd largest producer of litchi, 3rd largest producer of papaya and 4th largest producer of orange. However, this high production will have significance only when it reaches consumers in good condition. Faulty handling practices coupled with underdeveloped and exploitive marketing systems results in 25-30% postharvest losses and value deterioration, leaving little quality surpluses for export and processing. Primary causes of losses include physical injuries, shriveling, contamination with pathogenic fungi and bacteria, and pesticides and chemical residues. Lack of awareness, knowledge and skills of produce handlers and marketers, aided by high ambient temperature and non-availability of efficient cool chains, further aggravate post harvest losses. Moreover, in India, the logistic chain and marketing chains of fresh fruit are very long and complicated leading to a high degree of distribution hazards. Suitable types of packaging materials need to be developed to enable fresh produce to reach destinations in a safe and sound condition. In India, the cool chain system for horticultural crops remains unorganized. There is an urgent need to develop national level planning to develop cool chain systems that are co-factoring dependent, requiring an integration with infrastructural development including reliable and consistent electricity and water supplies as well as improved road net works. This paper outlines present practices followed for harvesting, packaging, transportation and marketing of three major fruit crops, namely mango, banana, and litchi in West Bengal, India and also suggests immediate steps that must be taken to reduce postharvest losses.