PostHarvest Technology - Topic 1 Introduction http://cms.cnr.edu.bt/cms/postharvest/?Topic_1_Introduction[27/05/2015 01:25:01 PM] Topic 1 Introduction Topic 1: Post Harvest Technology Introduction Despite the remarkable progress made in increasing food production at the global level, approximately half of the population in the Third World does not have access to adequate food supplies. There are many reasons for this, one of which is food losses occurring in the post-harvest and marketing system. Evidence suggests that these losses tend to be highest in those countries where the need for food is greatest. Both quantitative and qualitative food losses of extremely variable magnitude occur at all stages in the post-harvest system from harvesting, through handling, storage, processing and marketing to final delivery to the consumer. Estimates of the post-harvest losses of food grains in the developing world from mishandling, spoilage and pest infestation are put at 25 percent; this means that one-quarter of what is produced never reaches the consumer for whom it was grown, and the effort and money required to produce it are lost-forever. Fruit, vegetables and root crops are much less hardy and are most quickly perishable, and if care is not taken in their harvesting, handling and transport, they will soon decay and become unfit for human consumption. Estimates of production losses in developing countries are hard to judge, but some authorities put losses of sweet potatoes, plantain, tomatoes, bananas and citrus fruit to as high as 50 percent, or half of what is grown. Reduction in this wastage, particularly if it can economically be avoided, would be of great significance to growers and consumers alike. To reduce these losses producers and handlers must first understand the biological and environmental factors involved in deterioration. And second, use postharvest techniques that delay senescence and maintain the best possible quality. What is Post-Harvest Technology? Post-harvest technologies constitute an inter-disciplinary science and techniques applied to agricultural commodities after harvest for the purpose of preservation, conservation, quality control/enhancement, processing, packaging, storage, distribution, marketing, and utilization to meet the food and nutritional requirements of consumers in relation to their needs. Post-harvest technology stimulates agricultural production, prevents post-harvest losses, improves nutrition and adds value to agricultural products thereby opening new marketing opportunities and generating new jobs while stimulating growth of other related economic sectors. The process developing post-harvest technologies requires an interdisciplinary and multidimensional research approach, which includes scientific creativity, technological innovation, and commercial entrepreneurship and stakeholder inputs. Answers
Topic 1: Post Harvest Technology IntroductionDespite the
remarkable progress made in increasing food production at the
global level, approximately half of the population in the Third
World does not have access to adequate food supplies. There are
many reasons for this, one of which is food losses occurring in the
post-harvest and marketing system. Evidence suggests that these
losses tend to be highest in those countries where the need for
food is greatest. Both quantitative and qualitative food losses of
extremely variable magnitude occur at all stages in the
post-harvest system from harvesting, through handling, storage,
processing and marketing to final delivery to the consumer.
Estimates of the post-harvest losses of food grains in the
developing world from mishandling, spoilage and pest infestation
are put at 25 percent; this means that one-quarter of what is
produced never reaches the consumer for whom it was grown, and the
effort and money required to produce it are lost-forever. Fruit,
vegetables and root crops are much less hardy and are most quickly
perishable, and if care is not taken in their harvesting, handling
and transport, they will soon decay and become unfit for human
consumption.Estimates of production losses in developing countries
are hard to judge, but some authorities put losses of sweet
potatoes, plantain, tomatoes, bananas and citrus fruit to as high
as 50 percent, or half of what is grown. Reduction in this wastage,
particularly if it can economically be avoided, would be of great
significance to growers and consumers alike. To reduce these losses
producers and handlers must first understand the biological and
environmental factors involved in deterioration. And second, use
postharvest techniques that delay senescence and maintain the best
possible quality. What is Post-Harvest Technology?
Post-harvest technologies constitute an inter-disciplinary
science and techniques applied to agricultural commodities after
harvest for the purpose of preservation, conservation, quality
control/enhancement, processing, packaging, storage, distribution,
marketing, and utilization to meet the food and nutritional
requirements of consumers in relation to their needs. Post-harvest
technology stimulates agricultural production, prevents
post-harvest losses, improves nutrition and adds value to
agricultural products thereby opening new marketing opportunities
and generating new jobs while stimulating growth of other related
economic sectors. The process developing post-harvest technologies
requires an interdisciplinary and multidimensional research
approach, which includes scientific creativity, technological
innovation, and commercial entrepreneurship and stakeholder
inputs.
