Emerging Concepts and Practices in Post-Harvest Management of Horticultural Crops Revisited

Abstract :

This paper offers a comprehensive account on the emerging concepts and practices in post-harvest management of horticultural crops. Post-harvest science and technology facilitates the industries to deliver safe, nutritious and fresh horticultural products to consumers at the end of the supply chain from farm to mouth. Substantial food wastages, which occur in the post-harvest period and such losses, could be reduced by improved post-harvest research, advancement, training and education. At present, many novel technologies and techniques are already being implemented to reduce the post-harvest losses which are witnessed at harvesting, during packing and transportation, in wholesale and retail markets, and during delays at various levels of handling. Improvements are also required to minimize the losses effectively and keep the process-cost low so that it could be applicable at commercial scale in a wide range of economic levels. By developing the practices utilized at post-harvest phase, the expenses accompanying for additional processing paces could also be reduced. Future studies should also be focused on incorporating various emerging technologies with post-harvest practices and appropriate improved practices should be adopted to an existing value chain and marketing system.