Quantifying Postharvest Losses of Tomato:A Farm Level Study in Selected Areas of Bangladesh

Abstract

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) is a popular vegetable in Bangladesh. The quality of tomato depends on its pre and postharvest operations. This paper reports on postharvest losses of tomato in four intensive tomato growing villages of Jamalpur and Rangpur districts of Bangladesh. Quantitative and qualitative postharvest losses were measured using descriptive and inferential statistics. It is revealed from the study that farmer harvested tomato at half ripe condition (40.3 per cent) in order to take the advantage of long shelf life and 64 per cent of them use plastic crate for packaging and transportation purposes. Irrespective of using traditional human pulling rickshaw or van, tomato farmerswere using motor driving van (27.8 per cent) and rickshaw (20.8 per cent) to carry their product in the market. Farm level postharvest loss of tomato was 12.5 per cent, of which 8.9 per cent was due to full damage and the rest 3.6 per cent was due to partial damage of tomato. Rotten due to physical damage and disease followed by insect infestation were the major causes of postharvest loss in the survey area. Due to postharvest losses farmers have to incur financial loss of Tk. 152.5 per decimal of tomato cultivation. Factors like total harvested amount, family member, training and selling price of tomato were the main determinants of postharvest loss in the survey area. Lower prices, absence of tomato storage, white fly and viral infection were the most noteworthy problems in tomato cultivation. Developing proper storage system, fair price and efficient disease management are necessary to minimize farm level postharvest loss of tomato.