This is an article that provides you with information on the different types of packaging that are often used and its evaluation. It also reveals the different forms of losses in fruit and vegetable production. The cost benefit analysis of the packaging forms and the constraint of introducing new packaging methods were herby analyzed.
Authors: K.G.L.R. Jayathunge, W.M.C.B. Wasala, H.M.A.P. Rathnayake, C.R. Gunawardane, H.C. Samarakoon, M.D. Fernando and K.B. Palipane ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND
Fresh fruits and vegetables are termed perishable commodities because they have an inherent tendency for spoilage due to physiological reasons. Postharvest losses of these crops may occur at any point between harvest and consumption in the marketing process. In developing counties, where there is a profound lack of infrastructural and marketing facilities, postharvest losses of fresh produce vary between 25-50% of the total production, depending on the commodity. In Sri Lanka, it has been estimated that the Colombo Municipal Council discards 11 MT of fruits and vegetables as garbage from the Manning market (major wholesale market in Colombo) per day.
Moreover, approximately 270000 MT of fruits and vegetables (Pineapple) are lost during the postharvest operations and the value of this is approximately Rs. 9000 million. Improper post harvest handling, improper packaging and transportation, diseases and inadequate storage facilities are some of the major reasons for such high postharvest losses. Losses of this magnitude represent a significant food loss and a considerable economic loss to the country.
Furthermore, farmer gets low price for his commodities and consumer gets low quality products. In Sri Lanka fresh fruits and vegetables are packed mainly in Poly-sacks for transportation and this practice leads to serious losses. Of the total postharvest loss occurring in fresh produce, the loss during handling and transportation alone amounts to approximately 20%. The use of rigid containers such as plastic crates, wooden boxes and fiber board boxes will minimize the serious damage occurring in fresh fruits and vegetables during handling and transportation.
Hence, a study was undertaken to identify suitable packages, both from an economical and technical point of view, for handling and transportation of fresh commodities in Sri Lanka.
Ten types of packages, selected from those available in the market and also those developed by various institutions were used for evaluation. The types of packages selected were: nestable plastic crate (large and small size), collapsible plastic crate (large and small), steel collapsible crate, wooden box designed by ITI, wooden boxes designed by IPHT, fiber board box and wax coated fiberboard box. The evaluation study was conducted by transporting the fresh produce from farmer’s field to Keppetipola Economic Center and then to Manning market, Colonbo. The nestable plastic crate of dimensions 52.5×35.0x30.0 cm was identified as the most suitable package for handling and transportation of tomatoes and the nestable plastic crate of dimensions 60.0×42.5×30.0 cm was identified as the most suitable package for other vegetables such as beans, cabbage, brinjals and curry chilies.3
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Fresh fruits and vegetables are termed perishable commodities because they have an inherent tendency for spoilage for physiological reasons. Postharvest losses can occur at any point between harvest and consumption in the marketing process. In developing countries, where there is a profound lack of infrastructural and marketing facilities, post harvest losses of fresh produce vary between 25-50 % of the total production, depending on the commodity.
In Sri Lanka, it has been estimated that eleven tons of fruits and vegetables are discarded as garbage from the Manning Market per day by the Colombo municipal. Moreover, approximately 270000 tons of fruits and vegetables are lost during postharvest operations and the value of this loss is approximately Rs. Million 9000 (IPHT Technical Note, 2001). Poor post harvest handling during storage, improper packaging and transportation, diseases and inadequate storage facilities are some of major reasons for such high post harvest losses. Losses of this magnitude represent a significant food loss and a considerable economic loss to the country. Furthermore, farmer gets low price for his commodities and consumer gets low quality products.
In Sri Lanka fresh fruits and vegetables are packed mainly in poly-sacks for transportation and this practice leads to serious losses. Of the total post harvest loss occurring in fresh produce, the loss during handling and transportation alone amounts to approximately 20%. The use of rigid containers such as plastic crates, wooden boxes and fiberboard boxes can minimize the serious damage occurring in fruits and vegetables during handling and transportation (Anon, 1986). Hence, it is important to introduce suitable packages for handling and transportation of fresh fruits and vegetables in Sri Lanka. This study was undertaken to identify suitable packages, both from a technical and economic point of view, for handling and transportation of fresh commodities in Sri Lanka. 4
2.0 OBJECTIVES
1. To identify and evaluate characteristics and properties of different types of rigid containers available in Sri Lanka that suitable for handling and transportation of fresh vegetables.
2. To assess and compare the post harvest losses of fruits and vegetables, occurring in the chain when packed in existing (polysacks and traditional boxes) and introducing packages.
3. To select the most suitable package type for each commodity by considering the cost benefit analysis.
4. To study the constraints when introducing new packages instead of existing method.
5.0 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Among rigid containers evaluated in the study, namely nestable plastic crate, collapsible plastic crate, collapsible steel crate, wooden box, fiberboard box and wax coated fiberboard box, the nestable plastic crate is the most suitable package type for handling and transportation of vegetables, both in terms of technical and economic feasibility.
The durability of the collapsible plastic crate is less than that of the nestable plastic crate and also, the damage to the commodity in the former package is high as compared to the latter. The collapsible steel crate is difficult to handle due to presence of sharp edges, which could cause injury to handlers. The durability of the steel crate is also low as compared to plastic crates. The damage to produce in wooden boxes is high, due to presence of sharp edges.
Further, the cost of transportation in these boxes is high as compared to nestable and collapsible crates because they occupy a large truck space on return of empty crates to the point of production. The durability of fiber board and wax coated fiber board boxes is the lowest among the different rigid containers tested. Also, the loss of produce in these types of crates is appreciably high in comparison to the other rigid crate types. When the most suitable rigid package, namely the nestable plastic crate is compared with conventional methods of packaging namely poly sacks and traditional wooden boxes, the latter for tomatoes, the loss occurring in the commodity in conventional methods is 22-30%. This loss could be reduced, on an average, to 5.8% when nestable plastic crates are used. Even though there is a decrease in capacity by 50% when vegetables are transported in nestable plastic crates instead of polysacks, the reduction in commodity losses compensates more than adequately for this reduction in capacity. This is reflected in 46 the increase in net income of the farmer and trader by Rs 2500 and 5000 respectively per tuck load of vegetables as compared to transportation in polysacks.
6.0 SUGGESTIONS
1. Effective awareness programme for advantage of using containers, proper handling of containers must be conducted for farmers, handlers, collectors, retailers etc.
2. Floor area at economic centers must be increased in order to facilitate storage of empty and filled containers.
3. Lorry parking area in the economic centers should be increased in order to provide parking facilities for increased number of lorries.
4. Infrastructural facilities (especially roads) must be developed.
5. To prevent stolen of commodities from rigid containers, proper cover or net should be introduced.
6. Suitable rigid containers should be distributed in free of charge or at subsidized rate among farmers, collectors, buyers etc.
7. Proper chain should be built up to recycle damaged containers.
For read the full document here