Quality Management and Commodity Flow of Horticultural Produce in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.

摘要

This study was conducted to examine how the participants involved in the commodity flow of cabbage, Chinese-aster, and coconut managed the quality of products before and after harvest as well as in the market place during the year 2007. A stratified random sampling method was used to interview 73 respondents. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Cabbage, Chinese-aster and coconut are the most widely produced horticultural crops in Myanmar. During the pre-harvest period quality management was mainly achieved by using good production resources and traditional practices. During the harvest period, the harvested produce was placed in a well-ventilated shaded area to cool down. While during postharvest, the produce were cleaned and those with defects, discarded. Produce was then selected by physical parameters and packed with different packaging materials depending on the means of transport. The market flow of this produce was extended to different parts of Myanmar. The study showed that the participants in the production and marketing of this produce performed quality management according to traditional techniques. Information was obtained from the Myanmar Agriculture Service and private agricultural product companies. Farmers indicated that an increased yield and a higher market price together with a reduction in production costs were seen as being more important than quality.