Green Global
Foundation   Journal
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ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF POST-HARVEST LOSSES OF VEGETABLES: A STUDY IN BOGURA DISTRICT OF BANGLADESH (Pages : 19 - 25)

The study has examined the nature and extent of post-harvest losses of vegetable at different stages in the Bogura. Multistage cluster sampling has been used for selection of 120 vegetable growers from six villages of three upazilla viz. Bogura sadar, Shibjonj and Shajahanpur. The sample has also included 25 market functionaries. Twelve major vegetables have been selected for the study. The maximum aggregate post-harvest losses were found in tomato, followed by potato, onion, okra, brinjal, chilli, country bean, cauliflower and cabbage. The results of the study indicated that post-harvest losses is the sum quantity of outputs lost in a series of operations undergone to all agricultural commodities including threshing, transportation, processing, storage and exchange before consumption. Severe losses were occurred due to poor facilities, lack of know-how, poor management and improper market facilities or careless handling of the producers, market intermediaries and consumers. Functional analysis was carried out to examine the factors affecting post-harvest losses at farm level in vegetables. Post-harvest losses at farm level were a function of several socio-economic factors like age of the farmer, education, type of family, and total production of selected vegetable crops among others. The functional analysis revealed that inadequate storage and inadequate transportation activities coupled with bad weather conditions significantly influenced the post-harvest losses at the farm level. The study suggested that establishment of producer co-operatives to handle various activities relating to production and marketing of vegetables and establishment of small sized cold storage units in the production canters would help to reduce the post-harvest losses.Download