Reducing Postharvest Losses
In the OIC Member Countries
107
4.4.3. Causes of Postharvest Losses
The chief causes of postharvest losses were attributed to poor packaging methods and
transport of tomatoes, particularly from distant production areas to the main wholesale
markets in Dhaka. However, harvesting methods on-farm also contributory factors. According
to Ahmed (2013), tomatoes are harvested at any time of the day and removal of field heat is
rarely practiced; farmers’ knowledge of maturity indices is inadequate - immature and over
mature produce are harvested; produce is often piled in heaps which causes bruising. Sorting
is done to remove damaged and disease/insect infested produce based on visual observation.
Grading is based on size but most produce is not graded. Washing is seldom practiced and
there is no regard for water quality. Use of packaging materials such as bamboo baskets, jute
bags and plastic sacks cause high losses due to squashing of the produce. Damage by rats to
harvested tomatoes were mentioned as a cause of loss (Rokeya Begum Shefali, Aid Comilla,
).
Tomatoes are head loaded, carried on bicycles or motorbikes or in rickshaws from the fields to
farmers’ houses or to the local markets for selling. Tomatoes bought from the villages are piled
up in markets in the production areas, then loaded in bulk onto trucks for traveling to
city/district markets hundreds of kilometres away. Produce is unloaded without care at the
destination. These different modes of packaging and transportation exposed the tomatoes.
According to Hassan et al. (2010) the main reasons for losses are physiological and
biochemical processes, microbial decay, high perishability and sub-standard postharvest
handling infrastructure. Improved pre- and postharvest practices noted for the higher value
summer tomatoes by growers and traders were observed.
Companies buying tomatoes for processing try to manage the risk of postharvest loss using
strict specifications for their contract farmers and by providing training on harvesting time
and methods, postharvest handling including sorting and grading. Farmers receive two-three
taka more per kilogram than the market price but bear any postharvest losses or produce of
unacceptable quality. PRAN Ltd, the largest processor, provides plastic crates to farmers for
harvesting and transport of tomatoes.
Political disputes also contribute to postharvest losses. In 2015, transport was disrupted due
to strikes (Hartal) and civil disobedience and traders and transporters were deterred from
travelling to the tomato production areas to buy produce. This resulted in considerable losses
of tomatoes (Dhaka Tribune 19.1.15).
4.4.4. Measures and Strategies Implemented for Postharvest Loss Reduction
Researchers and practitioners involved in postharvest activities and produce marketing
suggest and promote a number of improved preharvest practices, such as correct maturity,
bird scaring, staking of tomato plants, as well as a range of improved postharvest practices of
which the use of plastic crates, from the field to the retail market, is particularly encouraged
(Table 49).