Post-harvest Activities Research Articles

Empowerment of Fisherwomen Involved in Post-Harvest Activities of Marine Fisheries in Uttara Kannada District of Karnataka

Empowerment of Fisherwomen Involved in Post-Harvest Activities of Marine Fisheries in Uttara Kannada District of Karnataka

Exploring Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Based Cushioning Design to Reduce Bruise Damage in Pears

Post-harvest activities, which include sorting, loading, unloading, and transporting, are potential factors that cause mechanical damage and bruises to fresh produce. This would directly impact fruit shelf-life and, therefore, cause economic losses. This study developed a finite element (FE) model for pear fruit where a steel impactor drop-based test was utilized. The FE model was validated by evaluating it as the experimental model in order to identify bruises of the pear fruit. Therefore, to minimize bruises on the pear fruit, a recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) spring-based design was proposed in order to serve as a cushioning design for pear fruits. Design of experiments and response surface methodology were performed in order to minimize the fruit bruise susceptibility response subject to different spring design parameters. The results revealed that reduced spring pitch and increased coil thickness would significantly minimize bruises of pear fruit. The recycled PET proposed design proved its efficiency in reducing FE pear fruit model bruises by about 50%. This study provides insights on assessing bruise susceptibility using finite element analysis and reusing plastic for fresh produce packaging, thus reducing loops in supply chains and achieving a circular economy.

Evaluation of integrated threshing and drying design concepts for paddy rice using analytical hierarchy process

Threshing and drying are two major postharvest activities that contribute significantly to postharvest losses for small and medium-scale rice farmers, leading to food insecurity and hunger in Sub-Saharan Africa. Developing an appropriate system for threshing and drying needs urgent attention. The objective of the study involved the use of Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) for evaluation and selection of the best option among four design concepts for development and fabrication. The four design concepts shortlisted were: (1) batch flow biomass-powered manual threshing and drying system, (2) recirculating diesel-powered mobile threshing and drying system, (3) mechanized threshing with solar drying batch system, and (4) tractor-powered recirculating continues flow integrated system. For the MCAHP analysis, 17 attributes were proposed and divided into five main criteria. The evaluation of the main criteria showed that cost had the highest score, followed by performance, safety, ease of installation and operation, and manufacturability, with a global score of 0.560, 0.202, 0.108, 0.083 and 0.048, respectively. It was observed that design concept two received the highest weighted score of 0.35 and was selected as the design concept to proceed with. The consistency ratios of the main criteria and attributes were all less than 0.1, which is the allowable limit of inconsistency. In conclusion, concept 2 was selected as the best design for developing an integrated threshing and drying system for paddy rice and is recommended for development, fabrication, evaluation and optimisation. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 14(1): 30-44, June 2024

Predictive modelling of allowable storage time for pearl millet using multilayer perception neural network

Biotic and abiotic factors interact to damage grains in the storage ecosystem. Monitoring temperature fluctuations and moisture migration is crucial to control their impact on grain quality. Grains with high temperature and moisture content have limited time for post-harvest activities. Hence, it is important to determine the time before spoilage for different grain moisture contents and storage temperatures. The study evaluated the impact of storage variables, specifically moisture content, storage temperature, and storage period, on the parameters associated with grain quality and seed deterioration in pearl millet. A model for predicting the allowable storage time was developed using a feed-forward-back propagation multilayer perception (MLP) neural network. The effectiveness of Levenberg–Marquardt (LM), Bayesian Regularization (BR), and Scaled Conjugated Gradient (SCG) algorithms in predicting the safe storage time was evaluated and compared. The BR neural network model showed higher predictability with an R2 value greater than 0.98 and low error values. The safe storage guidelines chart and model developed for allowable storage time will be helpful for farmers and grain processing industries including storage hubs to schedule different post-harvest operations of pearl millet with minimal changes in grain quality.

Rural Women's Participation in Managing Aflatoxin Contamination in the Groundnut Postharvest Value Chain in Chemba District, Tanzania

Aims: This study sought to determine the extent of rural women's participation in managing aflatoxin contamination in the groundnut postharvest value chain. Study Design: The study employed a cross-sectional mixed-methods research design involving quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in the Chemba District in Dodoma Region, Tanzania situated at the coordinates 05°14′ 34′′ S latitude and 35°53′ 24′′ E longitude, respectively. Methodology: The primary data for the study were obtained from a random sample of 137 female groundnut farmers residing in twelve (12) villages from eight (08) wards in Chemba District. A questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data, while an FGD guide, checklist, and participant observation were employed to obtain qualitative data. Results: The findings show that women groundnut farmers participate partly in various aflatoxins-related project activities in decision making (50.36%), implementation (44.52%), benefits (59.85%), and evaluation (51.09%). Moreover, the findings of the study show that women participate in groundnut postharvest activities involving cleaning, drying, grading, sorting, processing, packing, storage, and marketing. However, the study shows that women’s participation in groundnut postharvest activities for managing aflatoxin is low. The findings also indicate that there is no statistically significant association between women's involvement in aflatoxin management and their age (χ2 = 7.800, P = 0.099), years of engagement in agriculture (χ2 = 3.556, P = 0.469), and farm size (χ2 = 2.004, P = 0.735). Additionally, a statistically significant association was observed between women's participation in managing aflatoxin and their level of education (χ2 = 12.650, P = 0.013*), as well as their marital status (χ2 = 27.550, P = 0.000***). Conclusion: The study found that rural women's participation in managing aflatoxin contamination in the groundnut postharvest value chain is critical. Hence, this study recommends developing strategies and initiatives targeting and supporting women's participation in managing aflatoxin contamination in the groundnut postharvest value chain.

Nutritional Analysis and Economic Viability of Fried Ube Noodles: A Comprehensive Study

Purpose of the Study: Ube has a significant production volume in Quirino Province, but it faces challenges in generating high profits due to limited post-harvest activities and low awareness of its nutritional composition. To address these issues, this comprehensive evaluation aims to examine the nutritional value, financial viability, and profitability of fried ube noodles. Methodology: Ube-based products' nutritional value is analyzed using the IPO model and various methods such as the Biuret Method and Moisture Analyzer. The study also evaluates manufacturing costs and profitability using gross profit margin (GPM), net profit margin (NPM); and return on investment (RoI). Main Findings: The analysis demonstrates that the product is profitable, with a GPM of 54.35%, NPM of 19.43%, and ROI of 24.11%. The 6 Ps study suggests various strategies, including awareness campaigns, involvement of health professionals, product diversification, collaborations with local farmers, research publication, patent opportunities, and lobbying for industry policies. Implications: These strategies leverage the nutritional value of fried ube noodles to increase market visibility and support sustainable growth across People, Services, Products, Places & Partnerships, Publication, Patents, and Policy. The study provides fried ube noodle operators with comprehensive information for decision-making and strategic planning.

A multi-criteria model of supply chain sustainability assessment and improvement for sugarcane agroindustry

The sustainability of the sugarcane agro-industry supply chain plays a crucial role in providing economic benefits, minimizing social and environmental impacts, and optimizing resource utilization. This research aims to analyze the sustainability performance of the sugarcane agro-industry supply chain using multi-criteria assessment and formulate strategies for sustainability improvement. The study proposes a multi-criteria assessment model with twenty-eight indicators and four dimensions of sustainability: economic, social, environmental, and resources, which were developed based on previous research. The fuzzy inference system (FIS) and multi-dimensional scaling (MDS) methods were utilized to analyze the multi-criteria indicators of sustainability performance in each dimension and overall supply chain. The Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) model was used to aggregate multi-dimension sustainability to achieve overall sustainability performance. A fuzzy cognitive map (FCM) framework was developed to formulate strategies for improving the sustainability performance of the supply chain. The research was verified at two sugar mill locations in Java Island, Indonesia. The FIS and MDS models successfully analyzed the sustainability performance of the two sugar agro-industries, showing an average value of “quite sustainable”. The overall sustainability performance using the ANFIS model for mill A and B were 57.2 and 61.9, respectively. Series of FGDs combined with the FCM model successfully formulated five clusters of strategies as initiatives in improving the sustainability performance, namely raw material provision, harvesting and post-harvest activities, production process optimization, IT-based technology implementation, and institutional aspects. This present work seeks to contributes to the development of multi-criteria of sustainability performance for the food industry's supply chain. It also proposes a comprehensive framework for analyzing and improving sustainable supply chain performance under uncertainty using a combination of conventional and fuzzy assessment modeling approach. A practical initiative strategy in sustainability improvement is revealed for the sugarcane agroindustry's supply chain.

Digital Technologies, Sustainability, and Efficiency in Grain Post-Harvest Activities: A Bibliometric Analysis

Post-harvest grain processes play a crucial role in food supply chains. Recent research focuses on how digital technologies can minimize grain losses, enhance food safety, and reduce their environmental impacts. The relationship between technologies and efficiency and sustainability needs more clarity, particularly concerning critical control points in post-harvest activities. The purpose of this article is to establish a connection between digital technologies used in food supply chains and critical control points within post-harvest systems. The research method is a bibliometric analysis. A literature survey identified thirteen digital technologies. The most published technologies are simulation, automation, and artificial intelligence. The least is augmented reality. Previous research identified nine critical control points in post-harvest engineering solutions, responsible for most losses in efficiency and environmental impacts. A framework using a sample of recent case studies was constructed to relate digital technologies and critical control points. The primary contribution of the study is a categorized list of the most influential technologies corresponding to each control point. The significance and novelty lie in providing managers and practitioners in engineering solutions for post-harvest systems with a practical guide for decision-making in the selection of technologies for future projects. Ultimately, this aids in reducing losses and environmental impact.

Crop Canopy: Empowering Crop Resilience with IoT-Driven Rain Shed Solution

India is known for its farming, which has been crucial for its economy. But recently, farming hasn't been doing as well because of unpredictable rain. When the monsoon doesn't behave as expected, it can seriously damage crops, causing farmers to lose a lot of their produce. Unseasonal rains can have significant effects on Post-Harvesting Activities and the quality of harvested agricultural products such as fruit and vegetable crops during different stages of growth and harvesting. Post-harvesting steps are crucial to preserving the quality and ensuring the safety of the harvested products before they reach consumers. After harvesting, drying the crops is essential for storing grains. However, around 70% of farmers use the old method of sun-drying, which becomes a problem when unexpected rain falls. Sometimes, farmers even get hurt or lose their crops due to thunderstorms and lightning. To mitigate these challenges and losses, we have proposed a project aimed at providing an innovative, cost-effective solution: a proper Automated Rain Shed System, which opens and closes to protect crops or plants from unwanted rains and enables remote monitoring of Automated Rain Shed Operations.

Analisis curahan tenaga kerja pria dan wanita dalam usahatani hortikultura di lahan gambut

Research was conducted to examine the contribution of male and female workers in horticultural farming on peatlands in Limbung and Madu Sari Villages, Sungai Raya District, Kubu Raya Regency. The aim of this research is to find out the characteristics of horticultural farmers on peatlands, find out the amount of labor men and women use in horticultural farming on peatlands and how big the difference is in the amount of labor between the two, and find out the distribution of men's and women's decision making in horticultural farming on peatlands . Regarding the use of plant varieties, types of fertilizer, specific uses, and marketing of agricultural products. Are men or women dominant in decision making activities? Determining the sample size uses a saturated sampling technique, that is, the total number of samples is taken. The sample in this study was the total number of farmers taken from two villages, namely Madu Sari and Limbung villages, namely 40 respondents. The data analysis method used is descriptive qualitative and quantitative. The research results show that the average time spent by male workers is 50.31 HOK/planting season or a proportion of 74.62%, while the average time spent by female workers is 17.11 HOK/season or around 25.38%. This shows that there is still a lack of female labor in horticultural farming. Women's involvement appears to be dominant only in post-harvest activities. Apart from that, based on the distribution of men's and women's decision making in determining plant varieties, use of fertilizer types, specific uses, and marketing of horticultural farming products, it appears that women's involvement is still very limited. Is privation in decision making still very dominant? This shows that there is a gender gap in decision making for productive activities.

Chemical and Microbiological Characteristics of Sei-Pindang Tuna Fish

Pindang is a fishery processing product that plays an important role in post-harvest activities. Pindang products have a relatively short shelf life, namely less than 2 days at room temperature. Smoking is a drying technique used to maintain the shelf life of fish by using wood fuel as a smoke producer. Pindang tuna that has undergone the smoking process is given the name Sei-Pindang Ikan Tongkol. The aim of this research is to determine the chemical and microbiological characteristics of Sei-Pindang Tuna Fish. The results showed that sei-pindang tuna had a water content of 44.69 ± 0.66%, histamine content of 11.88 ± 1.12 mg N/100 g, total volatile bases content of 43.23 ± 0.22 mg N/100 g and the total number of bacteria was 2.1 x104 ± 1.2 x103 cfu/g.

Women’s Involvement Pattern in Grain Management Activities in Deoghar District of Jharkhand

Post-harvest losses in India posed a significant challenge, resulting in food wastage, reduced income for farmers, and increased pressure on resources. In the context of agriculture and food security, women played a crucial role in post-harvest operations, performing tasks such as cleaning, sorting, drying, storage, processing, and marketing of agricultural products. The study was conducted in the year 2023 with a sample of 120 randomly selected farmwomen in the Deoghar district of Jharkhand. The study aimed to recognize the involvement pattern of farm women in various post-harvest activities in rural areas. The findings indicated major participation of farm women was in activities like the sowing of seeds (67.5%), decision-making regarding pre-storage treatment (66.7%), drying of threshed grains (60.8%), mid-storage/intermediate treatment of grains (60.8%) and drying before threshing (49.2%) etc. The study also highlighted various drying and storing related practices carried out by farm women like sun drying of grains, threshing of major cereal crops by beating etc. which were mostly manual job required heavy physical energy.

Constraints faced by the fisherwomen involved in post-harvest activities of marine fisheries in Bapatla district of Andhra Pradesh

Constraints faced by the fisherwomen involved in post-harvest activities of marine fisheries in Bapatla district of Andhra Pradesh

MARKETING PATTERN OF LOCALLY MANUFACTURED FARM MACHINERY IN DISTRICT KHANEWAL

Agricultural mechanization encompasses the creation, production, and dissemination of various machinery, infrastructure, and tools designed for farming operations, post-harvest activities, and processing. This involves the implementation of appropriate farm machinery, which can be sourced either through imports or local production. The objective of this study was to investigate the marketing pattern of locally manufactured farm machinery among farmers. From the four tehsils of District Khanewal total of 60 farmers who had purchased one or more machinery in the last year were chosen. Respondents were interviewed face-to-face on a structured, validated and reliable questionnaire. Collected data were analyzed with the help of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Results confirmed that regarding the farmers, over 90 percent purchased new farm machinery directly, with a significant majority providing hiring services rather than operating the machinery on their land. The satisfaction level among farmers with the working conditions of the machinery was high although challenges such as credit unavailability spare parts unavailability and poor quality were reported.

An Overview on Post-Harvest Technological Advances and Ripening Techniques for Increasing Peach Fruit Quality and Shelf Life

Post-harvest handling and ripening techniques have an impact on peach quality and shelf life, which has a big impact on consumer satisfaction and market competitiveness. This review paper examines recent advancements in ripening techniques and post-harvest technologies with the goal of improving peach fruit quality and sustainability. The factors impacting fruit quality after harvest and the physiological changes that occur throughout peach ripening are fully explained. For maintaining peach freshness and reducing losses, novel handling methods like modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and controlled atmosphere storage (CAS) have been investigated. The study explores the possibilities of nanotechnology applications and low-temperature storage for prolonging shelf life while maintaining texture, flavor, and aroma. This study further analyzes the effectiveness and waste reduction potential of automation and mechanization in post-harvest activities. The paper also discusses ethylene-based and non-ethylene-based ripening agents, as well as innovative techniques including gene editing and RNAi technology for controlled and delayed ripening. Analyses are performed on how these technologies affect the sensory qualities and nutrient profiles of peaches. The study emphasizes the significance of sustainable practices in the peach industry by focusing on waste reduction, resource efficiency, and circular economy integration. Post-harvest technologies’ potential environmental consequences are taken into consideration, and the paper encourages more studies and cooperation to increase sustainability.

Vaname Shrimp (Litopenaus Vannamei) Hatchery Technique At CV. Manunggal 23, Serang District, Banten

Improper shrimp hatchery can have an impact on the low level of fry quality so that fry production results also decrease. Therefore, quality vannamei shrimp hatcheries must be handled appropriately in accordance with standard operating procedures that have been implemented so that they are marketable. So it is necessary to study more deeply about the vannamei shrimp hatchery, especially the vannamei shrimp hatchery technique. The purpose of this study is to find out a number of things including: Operational Standards for Vanname Shrimp Hatchery; Gonad maturity performance; and Post-harvest activities of vanname shrimp hatchery. The shrimp hatchery technique uses analysis by calculating the Fertilization Rate (HR) and Hatching Rate (HR). Based on the results of the study it was found that: 1). The technical aspects of the CV Manunggal 23 shrimp hatchery in general are in accordance with the standard procedures referred to. 2). The broodstock productivity performance at CV Manunggal 23 has a good rate with an average HR of 75.83% and FR of 62% within 3 weeks. 3). Water Quality in CV. Manunggal 23 achieved optimal numbers with an average temperature of 27-28°C, pH 8, DO 5.5-5.6 mg/L, and Salinity 32-33 ppt within 3 weeks.

Enhancing Agricultural Management: Implementing Web Application for Agriculture Planning from Experts

The "Agrownet Web Application" represents a transformative platform at the forefront of modernizing and optimizing agricultural practices, serving the vital needs of administrators, farmers, and planners. With a user-friendly interface customized to meet the distinct requirements of each user group, this web-based application signifies a pivotal leap forward in the agricultural sector. For farmers, the application provides a dedicated dashboard, offering comprehensive insights into their farming operations. From monitoring the entire lifecycle of crops, managing resources, and maintaining detailed records, farmers are empowered to make well-informed decisions. This approach fosters an environment where agricultural productivity is maximized and resource utilization optimized. Planners, on the other hand, serve as indispensable guides and collaborators for farmers. They delve into intricate crop planning, from selecting the most suitable crop varieties and determining the ideal planting schedules to developing effective strategies for harvesting and post-harvesting activities. Additionally, the application equips planners with data-driven recommendations for managing pests, diseases, and crop growth, ensuring that farmers receive expert guidance at every stage of their agricultural journey. The application's central database houses crucial information about crop availability and stock levels, enabling users to make informed decisions regarding planting choices and resource management. Robust reporting features facilitate in-depth data analysis, which further contributes to improved agricultural productivity and resource optimization.

Enhancing West Java’s Horticultural Transportation: Design Thinking for Food Loss Reduction

The purpose of this paper is to reduce food loss during transportation from farmers to post harvester in West Java, Indonesia. Agriculture is one of the sectors that support the country's economy and horticultural commodities, especially vegetable and fruit products, are very susceptible to both damages caused by pests and post-harvest activities. The design thinking methodology is applied to reduce food loss for banana transportation from farmers to post-harvester, which include the cycle of activities of emphatize – define – ideate – prototype – test. A transportation handling is designed for transporting banana in an attempt to reduce food loss.

RANCANG BANGUN DAN MODIFIKASI MESIN PENEPUNG BERAS BERPENGGERAK MESIN SEPEDA MOTOR

The use of two-wheeled motorbikes as transportation has inspired researchers to increase their use as drivers for agricultural tools and machinery (machines). The machine that will be made is portable so that it can be used by farmers and community service providers to help with post-harvest activities. The type of motorbike used in this research is the Honda Megapro 155cc. This motorbike has a powerful maximum power of 13.3 HP. This research focuses on modifying rice flour machines using motorbikes. Although conventional rice flour machines have made a major contribution to rice processing efficiency, the adoption of motorbike drives brings a new dimension in terms of mobility and accessibility. This modification aims to increase the efficiency, competitiveness and availability of rice flouring machines, especially in rural and remote areas where access to conventional energy resources may be limited. The benefit of this research is to improve the community's economy, especially grater business actors, because with this innovation, business actors can carry out grinding anywhere and of course can move from one market to another and can even carry out grinding door to door. This research method includes planning, machine design, machine fabrication, testing. Based on the research results obtained, the prototype of this grinding/floating machine can function well as proven by good test results. The test results from this research showed that the average time for grinding 1kg rice was 7 minutes 53 seconds and the average fuel required to grind 1kg rice was 150 ml

Analisis Struktur Biaya Usahatani Cengkeh Di Desa Raanan Baru Dua Kecamatan Motoling Barat Kabupaten Minahasa Selatan

This study aims to analyze the cost of cloves in Raanan Baru 2 Village, West Motoling District. Sampling in this study used the method (Purposive Sampling) or deliberately from clove farmers in Raanan Baru Dua Village, West Motoling District. The number of respondents was 10 people as respondents. The data used in this study are primary data and secondary data. Primary data was obtained by using direct interview techniques with clove farmers as respondents, by using a questionnaire (questionnaire) as an aid in data collection. While secondary data were obtained from the agencies involved in this study. The analytical method used in this research is cost analysis, analysis of total revenue and total income and the cost structure of farming. the results of research conducted on clove farming in Raanan Baru Dua Village, West Motoling District, obtained an income of Rp.93,906,348.- per harvest with a total income of IDR 196,790,000.- per harvest and a total cost of IDR 102,883,652.- per harvest of the total costs incurred fixed costs (Fix Cost) contributed to the total cost of 0.03 percent and variable costs (Variable Cost) contributed to the total cost of 99.96 percent and for the contribution of costs based on harvest preparation activities contributed to the total cost of 0.59 percent and for cost contributions based on harvest activities contributing to costs of 97.84 percent and for cost contributions based on post-harvest activities contributing to total costs of 1.16 percent.