Reducing Postharvest Losses
In the OIC Member Countries
71
Table 34: Causes of PHLs reported for fruits and vegetables and per step of processing
Postharvest
step
Grapes Mangoes,
mangosteens,
guavas
Onions Tomatoes Watermelons Other fruits
Harvesting  High product
temperature at
harvest; physical
damage
 Harvesting
timing; leading
to over or under-
ripe fruits
 Poor
harvesting
techniques
and/or planting
of fragile
varieties; high
physical damage
 Poor
harvesting
techniques
and/or planting
of fragile
varieties; high
physical damage
 Harvesting
timing; leading
to over or under-
ripe fruits
 Lack of
temperature
regulation, poor
storage facilities
 Poor
harvesting
techniques
and/or planting
of fragile
varieties; high
physical damage
 Lack of sorting
to remove poor
quality/damage
d produce
 Harvesting
timing; leading
to over or under-
ripe fruits
 Poor
harvesting
techniques
and/or planting
of fragile
varieties; high
physical damage
 And handling
during
harvesting
Storage  No appropriate
storage facilities
accessible to
manage trader
and price
opportunities (if
buyer does not
arrive or offers a
very poor price)
 No appropriate
storage facilities
accessible to
manage trader
and price
opportunities (if
buyer does not
arrive or offers a
very poor price)
 No appropriate
storage system
without
considering
fundamentals of
refrigeration
 No appropriate
storage facilities
accessible to
manage trader
and price
opportunities (if
buyer does not
arrive or offers a
very poor price
 No appropriate
storage facilities
accessible to
manage trader
and price
opportunities (if
buyer does not
arrive or offers a
very poor price
-  No appropriate
storage facilities
accessible to
manage trader
and price
opportunities (if
buyer does not
arrive or offers a
very poor price
Marketing  Simultaneous
overproduction
leading to fresh
product market
gluts, and few
value addition or
processing
options
 Poor market
information or
options leading
to farmer selling
at a low price:
Especially in
export
marketing
 Simultaneous
overproduction
leading to fresh
product market
gluts, and few
value addition or
processing
options
 Poor market
information or
options leading
to farmer selling
at a low price
 Lack of
awareness of
quality
standards by
farmers
 Simultaneous
overproduction
leading to fresh
product market
gluts, and few
value addition or
processing
options
 Lack of
awareness of
quality
standards by
farmers
 Lack of
awareness of
quality
standards by
farmers
 Poor market
information or
options leading
to farmer selling
at a low price
 Simultaneous
overproduction
leading to fresh
product market
gluts, and few
value addition or
processing
options
Traders
handling and
sorting
 Poor packing,
handling or
sorting of
produce in field
and at traders
premises
 Poor packing,
handling or
sorting of
produce in field
and at traders
premises: non
skilled system
 Poor quality
produce from
the farmers such
as damaged,
diseased, over or
under-ripe
produce
 Poor quality
produce from
the farmers such
as damaged,
diseased, over or
under-ripe
produce
 Lack of
appropriate
storage facilities
 Poor packing,
handling or
sorting of
produce in field
and at traders
premises
 Poor packing,
handling or
sorting of
produce in field
and at traders
premises
 Lack of
appropriate
storage facilities
 Poor packing,
handling or
sorting of
produce in field
and at traders
premises
 Poor quality
produce from
the farmers such
as damaged,
diseased, over or
under-ripe
produce