Pre and Post Harvest in Agriculture

Students' Channel

25 Nov 202306:48

Summary

TLDRThe video script discusses the critical issue of pre and post-harvest weightage and losses in agriculture, which significantly impact the quality and quantity of produce, negatively affecting farmers' income. Pre-harvest losses are attributed to factors like weather conditions, while post-harvest losses involve degradation from harvest to consumption. Inefficient food systems contribute to this wastage, with inadequate post-harvest management leading to substantial losses. The video emphasizes the importance of proper site selection, genetic constituents, planting periods, irrigation, and other agricultural practices to minimize pre-harvest losses. It also highlights the need for clear concepts of post-harvest operations, awareness among growers, infrastructure, technical support, and quality control to reduce post-harvest losses. The script calls attention to the alarming fact that up to one-third of the world's food is wasted, particularly in developing countries where over 30% of certain food products never reach consumers due to weak post-harvest supply chains. It concludes by stressing the importance of every step in the agricultural process to prevent the loss of valuable food and income.

Takeaways

🌱 Pre-harvest loss is the reduction in crop yield before harvesting, influenced by factors such as weather conditions and management practices.
🍂 Post-harvest loss refers to the degradation in quantity and quality of food from harvest to consumption, impacting food availability and farmer incomes.
🚜 Inefficient functioning of food systems leads to significant wastage and losses, particularly in nations where agriculture is a primary livelihood.
📈 Post-harvest loss in the PHL system includes both quantitative and qualitative losses during various post-harvest operations.
🌡 Environmental factors like temperature, humidity, and light influence the rate of food deterioration after harvest.
🛠️ Pre-harvest factors include site selection, genetic constituents, planting period, irrigation, and harvesting methods.
🌳 Pest and disease management is crucial to minimize pre-harvest losses due to biological factors.
🔍 Post-harvest losses can be caused by biological factors like pests and diseases, chemical contamination, and mechanical injuries.
🏚️ Lack of proper storage facilities, inadequate technical support, and poor market infrastructure contribute to post-harvest losses.
📦 Effective packaging, temperature management, and quality control are essential for reducing post-harvest losses.
🌐 Market access, information, training, and integrated pest management can help prevent post-harvest losses and improve the supply chain.

Q & A

What is the main topic discussed in the video script?
-The main topic discussed in the video script is pre and post-harvest weightage and losses in agriculture.
What are the causes of pre-harvest loss in crops?
-Pre-harvest loss in crops can be caused by various factors including past weather conditions, site selection, genetic constituents, planting period, irrigation, thinning and pruning, maturity stage, climatic conditions, heat management, rainfall, fertilizer application, and pest and disease management.
How is post-harvest loss defined in the script?
-Post-harvest loss is defined as degradation in both quantity and quality of food from harvest to consumption.
What are the consequences of inadequate post-harvest management?
-Inadequate post-harvest management results in a significant decrease in the quality and quantity of produce, which negatively impacts the income of farmers.
What are the reasons for post-harvest losses mentioned in the script?
-Reasons for post-harvest losses include lack of clear concept of parking house operations, lack of awareness among growers, contractors, and policy makers, lack of infrastructure, late realization of its importance, inadequate technical support, inadequate post-harvest quality control, unorganized marketing, absence of pre-cooling and cold storage, inadequate market facilities, market intelligence, and market information service, and poor storage facilities.
What types of post-harvest losses are mentioned in the script?
-The types of post-harvest losses mentioned include biological losses such as pests and diseases, chemical losses such as visible external contamination with pesticides and chemical products, mechanical injuries like cuts, bruises, greases, drops, scrapings, and shutters during harvesting, and physiological losses such as sprouting, rooting, and changes caused by transpiration and respiration.
What are the environmental factors influencing the deterioration of food post-harvest?
-Environmental factors influencing the deterioration of food post-harvest include temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric composition, and ethylene and light.
What are some precautions or preventions for post-harvest losses mentioned in the script?
-Precautions or preventions for post-harvest losses include proper storage facilities, good handling practices, effective packaging, temperature management, quality control, post-harvest processing infrastructure development, market access and information, training and education, integrated pest management, collaboration, and networking.
What is the sad realization mentioned in the script regarding food waste?
-The sad realization mentioned in the script is that up to one-third of the world's food is wasted, especially when in 2050 there will be 9 billion mouths to feed.
How does food waste in developing and emerging countries differ from that in the Western World?
-In developing and emerging countries, over 30% of certain food products do not even reach the customer due to weak links in the post-harvest supply chain, while in the Western World, food is wasted at the consumer level.
What are some of the issues that can damage products during transport and storage?
-Issues that can damage products during transport and storage include the quality of the product being meager to begin with, lack of cooling, bad packaging, poor infrastructure, or insufficient information.

Outlines

00:00

🌾 Pre and Post Harvest Losses in Agriculture

This paragraph discusses the critical issue of pre and post-harvest weightage and losses in agriculture. Pre-harvest losses are attributed to factors like weather conditions and site selection, while post-harvest losses involve the degradation of food quality and quantity from harvest to consumption. Inefficient food systems contribute to these losses, which are particularly detrimental in nations where agriculture is a primary subsistence. The paragraph also outlines the various factors affecting pre-harvest losses, including genetic constituents, planting periods, irrigation, and harvesting methods. Additionally, it touches on the reasons for post-harvest losses, such as lack of awareness, inadequate infrastructure, and poor storage facilities. The paragraph concludes with a focus on the importance of proper post-harvest management to prevent losses and maintain the quality and quantity of agricultural produce.

05:05

🌍 Global Impact of Food Waste and Losses

The second paragraph emphasizes the global scale of food waste, highlighting the startling statistic that up to one-third of the world's food is wasted. It contrasts the consumer-level waste in the Western World with the significant losses in developing and emerging countries, where over 30% of certain food products fail to reach consumers due to weak links in the post-harvest supply chain. The paragraph identifies several factors contributing to these losses, such as poor product quality at the outset, lack of cooling, inadequate packaging, insufficient infrastructure, and insufficient information. It also points out the consequences of these losses, including damage to products during transport and storage, overburdened storage facilities, and the impact of pests and diseases on stored goods. The paragraph underscores the importance of addressing these issues to prevent the loss of precious food and income for farmers.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Pre-Harvest Loss

Pre-Harvest Loss refers to the reduction in crop yield that occurs before the actual harvesting process. This can be due to various factors such as adverse weather conditions, pests, diseases, and poor agricultural practices. In the script, pre-harvest loss is mentioned as a significant issue that affects the quantity of crops available for consumption and contributes to inefficiencies in the food system.

💡Post-Harvest Loss

Post-Harvest Loss is defined as the degradation in both quantity and quality of food from the time of harvest to consumption. This loss can occur due to improper handling, storage, and transportation of the produce. The script highlights that post-harvest loss is a critical issue in agriculture, especially in nations where farming is a primary livelihood, as it negatively impacts the income of farmers and contributes to food waste.

💡Food Systems

Food Systems encompass the entire network of activities and processes involved in the production, distribution, and consumption of food. The script discusses how inefficient functioning of food systems leads to pre and post-harvest wastage and losses, emphasizing the importance of improving these systems to reduce food waste and enhance food security.

💡Harvesting Methods

Harvesting Methods refer to the techniques and practices used to collect crops from the field. The script mentions that the choice of harvesting methods can impact the amount of pre-harvest loss, suggesting that appropriate methods can help in reducing crop damage and ensuring a higher yield.

💡Pest and Disease Management

Pest and Disease Management involves the strategies and practices employed to control, prevent, or mitigate the impact of pests and diseases on crops. The script indicates that effective pest and disease management is crucial in reducing pre-harvest losses and maintaining the health of crops.

💡Infrastructure

Infrastructure in the context of the script refers to the physical structures and systems necessary for the efficient handling and distribution of agricultural produce. Lack of adequate infrastructure, such as proper storage facilities and transportation networks, is highlighted as a contributing factor to post-harvest losses.

💡Quality Control

Quality Control is the process of ensuring that agricultural products meet certain standards of quality and safety. The script discusses the importance of post-harvest quality control in maintaining the integrity of the produce and preventing losses due to spoilage or contamination.

💡Market Access

Market Access refers to the ability of farmers and producers to sell their products in the market. The script points out that improving market access can help in reducing post-harvest losses by ensuring that produce reaches consumers in a timely manner, thereby reducing the chances of spoilage and waste.

💡Post-Harvest Processing

Post-Harvest Processing includes all the activities that are carried out after the harvest to prepare the produce for the market. This may involve cleaning, sorting, drying, and packaging. The script implies that proper post-harvest processing can help in preserving the quality and quantity of agricultural products, thereby reducing losses.

💡Ethylene

Ethylene is a plant hormone that plays a crucial role in the ripening and senescence of fruits and vegetables. In the script, ethylene is mentioned as a factor that can influence the deterioration of produce during post-harvest storage, indicating the need for ethylene management to extend the shelf life of agricultural products.

💡Integrated Pest Management

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a holistic approach to pest control that combines various techniques such as biological control, habitat manipulation, and the use of resistant varieties. The script suggests that implementing IPM can help in reducing pest-related post-harvest losses by managing pest populations more effectively.

Highlights

Pre-harvest loss in agriculture can be caused by various factors including past weather conditions.

Post-harvest loss is defined as degradation in quantity and quality of food from harvest to consumption.

Inefficient functioning of Food Systems leads to pre and post-harvest wastage and losses.

Post-harvest loss in the PHL system refers to the loss of food in various post-harvest operations.

Food loss is a serious issue in nations where agriculture is a primary means of subsistence.

Inadequate post-harvest management results in a significant decrease in produce quality and quantity.

Pre-harvest factors include site selection, genetic constituents, planting period, irrigation, and more.

Reasons for losses include lack of awareness among growers, contractors, and policymakers.

Infrastructure, technical support, and post-harvest quality control are often inadequate.

Types of post-harvest losses include biological, chemical, mechanical, and physiological factors.

Environmental factors influencing deterioration include temperature, humidity, and atmospheric composition.

Preventions and precautions against post-harvest losses include proper storage facilities and good handling practices.

Effective packaging, temperature management, and post-harvest processing are crucial.

Market access, information, training, and education are important for reducing post-harvest losses.

Integrated pest management, collaboration, and networking are essential for efficient post-harvest management.

Up to one-third of the world's food is wasted, highlighting the need for improved post-harvest practices.

In developing and emerging countries, over 30% of certain food products do not reach the customer.

Weak links in the post-harvest supply chain can lead to product damage during transport and storage.

Pests and diseases can significantly impact stored goods, contributing to food and financial loss.

Transcripts

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[Music]

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