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Assessment of Postharvest Losses of Fruits in West Shewa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

Published in Plant (Volume 10, Issue 4)
Received: 29 September 2022    Accepted: 7 November 2022    Published: 11 November 2022
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Abstract

Fruit postharvest losses are a serious problem that many Ethiopian farmers face, and quantifying the magnitudes of postharvest losses is critical for identifying causal variables and developing strategies to reduce losses. This study was carried out in 2018/19 in west Shewa, Ethiopia, to assess the magnitude of selected fruits postharvest losses and the causes of losses at the farmer level. The study found that in the study area, postharvest fruit losses are highly significant in fruit production. Fruit losses were found at four key stages: harvesting, storage, transpiration, and marketing. The extent of fruit loss for mango, orange, and banana was estimated to be 19.8 percent, 12.6 percent, and 17.2 percent, respectively. Harvesting immature fruits, fruits dropped on the ground due to disease, untimely harvesting and packaging materials, harvesting diseased fruits, methods of fruits starting at temporary storages, and harvesting fruits at improper stages, particularly harvesting fruits at fully ripened stage were the major factors responsible for fruit losses during harvesting. At the storage stage, insect pest attacks, disease, and mechanical injury were identified as related factors, whereas at the transportation and marketing stages, injured fruits decay, damage to packaging materials, damage during loading and unloading, over piled fruits transportation, fruits scratching in the market, and market failure were identified as the major factors responsible for fruit losses. Farmers must be educated about the economic relevance of postharvest losses and control, as well as learn improved postharvest handling practices. Furthermore, research would play a significant role in testing and implementing better harvesting and packing materials to decrease fruit postharvest losses.

Published in Plant (Volume 10, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.plant.20221004.11
Page(s) 89-96
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Fruit, Postharvest Loss, Assessment

References
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[4] Woldu, Z., Mohammed, A., Belew, D., Shumeta, Z., & Bekele, A. (2015). Assessment of banana production and marketing in Ethiopia. International Journal of Sciences: Basic and Applied Research, 24 (3), 283-307.
[5] Madrid M (2011). Reducing postharvest losses and improving fruit quality worldwide: the one billion-dollar untapped business opportunity. [WWW document] URL http://www.fruitprofits.com/ing/articulo.asp?reg=26. Accessed November 20, 2020.
[6] Kughur, P. G., Ortindi, P. I. and Katikpo, G. (2015). Factors Affecting Farmers Accessibility to Agricultural Information in Gwer-East Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. International Journal of Information and Communication Technology Research, Volume 5 No. 10, [http://www. esjournals.org] site visited on 29/07/2017.
[7] Sabo E (2006). Participatory assessment of the impact of women in Agriculture Programme of Borno State, Nigeria. J. Trop. Agric., 1-2: 52-56.
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[9] Musasa, S. T.; Mvumi, B. M.; Manditsera, F. A.; Chinhanga, J.; Musiyandaka, S.; Chigwedere, C. Postharvest orange losses and small-scale farmers’ perceptions on the loss causes in the fruit value chain: A case study of Rusitu Valley, Zimbabwe. Food Sci. Qual. Man. 2013, 18, 1–8.
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[11] Kereth, G. A., Lyimo, M., Mbwana, H. A., Mongi, R. J., & Ruhembe, C. C. (2013). Assessment of post-harvest handling practices: knowledge and losses of fruits in Bagamoyo district of Tanzania. Food Science and Quality Management, 11.
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[13] Kader, A. A., & Rolle, R. S. (2004). The role of post-harvest management in assuring the quality and safety of horticultural produce, Vol. 152. FAO, Rome.
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  • APA Style

    Asfaw Shaka Gosa, Mosisa Chewaka Aga, Refisa Jebessa Geleta. (2022). Assessment of Postharvest Losses of Fruits in West Shewa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. Plant, 10(4), 89-96. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.plant.20221004.11

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    ACS Style

    Asfaw Shaka Gosa; Mosisa Chewaka Aga; Refisa Jebessa Geleta. Assessment of Postharvest Losses of Fruits in West Shewa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. Plant. 2022, 10(4), 89-96. doi: 10.11648/j.plant.20221004.11

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    AMA Style

    Asfaw Shaka Gosa, Mosisa Chewaka Aga, Refisa Jebessa Geleta. Assessment of Postharvest Losses of Fruits in West Shewa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. Plant. 2022;10(4):89-96. doi: 10.11648/j.plant.20221004.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.plant.20221004.11,
      author = {Asfaw Shaka Gosa and Mosisa Chewaka Aga and Refisa Jebessa Geleta},
      title = {Assessment of Postharvest Losses of Fruits in West Shewa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia},
      journal = {Plant},
      volume = {10},
      number = {4},
      pages = {89-96},
      doi = {10.11648/j.plant.20221004.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.plant.20221004.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.plant.20221004.11},
      abstract = {Fruit postharvest losses are a serious problem that many Ethiopian farmers face, and quantifying the magnitudes of postharvest losses is critical for identifying causal variables and developing strategies to reduce losses. This study was carried out in 2018/19 in west Shewa, Ethiopia, to assess the magnitude of selected fruits postharvest losses and the causes of losses at the farmer level. The study found that in the study area, postharvest fruit losses are highly significant in fruit production. Fruit losses were found at four key stages: harvesting, storage, transpiration, and marketing. The extent of fruit loss for mango, orange, and banana was estimated to be 19.8 percent, 12.6 percent, and 17.2 percent, respectively. Harvesting immature fruits, fruits dropped on the ground due to disease, untimely harvesting and packaging materials, harvesting diseased fruits, methods of fruits starting at temporary storages, and harvesting fruits at improper stages, particularly harvesting fruits at fully ripened stage were the major factors responsible for fruit losses during harvesting. At the storage stage, insect pest attacks, disease, and mechanical injury were identified as related factors, whereas at the transportation and marketing stages, injured fruits decay, damage to packaging materials, damage during loading and unloading, over piled fruits transportation, fruits scratching in the market, and market failure were identified as the major factors responsible for fruit losses. Farmers must be educated about the economic relevance of postharvest losses and control, as well as learn improved postharvest handling practices. Furthermore, research would play a significant role in testing and implementing better harvesting and packing materials to decrease fruit postharvest losses.},
     year = {2022}
    }
    

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    AU  - Asfaw Shaka Gosa
    AU  - Mosisa Chewaka Aga
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    AB  - Fruit postharvest losses are a serious problem that many Ethiopian farmers face, and quantifying the magnitudes of postharvest losses is critical for identifying causal variables and developing strategies to reduce losses. This study was carried out in 2018/19 in west Shewa, Ethiopia, to assess the magnitude of selected fruits postharvest losses and the causes of losses at the farmer level. The study found that in the study area, postharvest fruit losses are highly significant in fruit production. Fruit losses were found at four key stages: harvesting, storage, transpiration, and marketing. The extent of fruit loss for mango, orange, and banana was estimated to be 19.8 percent, 12.6 percent, and 17.2 percent, respectively. Harvesting immature fruits, fruits dropped on the ground due to disease, untimely harvesting and packaging materials, harvesting diseased fruits, methods of fruits starting at temporary storages, and harvesting fruits at improper stages, particularly harvesting fruits at fully ripened stage were the major factors responsible for fruit losses during harvesting. At the storage stage, insect pest attacks, disease, and mechanical injury were identified as related factors, whereas at the transportation and marketing stages, injured fruits decay, damage to packaging materials, damage during loading and unloading, over piled fruits transportation, fruits scratching in the market, and market failure were identified as the major factors responsible for fruit losses. Farmers must be educated about the economic relevance of postharvest losses and control, as well as learn improved postharvest handling practices. Furthermore, research would play a significant role in testing and implementing better harvesting and packing materials to decrease fruit postharvest losses.
    VL  - 10
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Author Information
  • College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, Department of Horticulture, Ambo University, Ambo, Ethiopia

  • College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, Department of Horticulture, Ambo University, Ambo, Ethiopia

  • College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, Department of Horticulture, Ambo University, Ambo, Ethiopia

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