High losses still hound Cordillera veggie farmers

So much postharvest losses are still being incurred by vegetable farmers in the Cordillera.

This was found in a study done by a research team of the DA-Bureau of Postharvest Research and Extension (BPRE) led by Ma. Elizabeth Ramos.

The team evaluated the marketing systems and postproduction losses incurred on cabbage, carrot, and potato in the Cordillera.

At least 12.57 percent of the average cabbage production of 21.7 tons per hectares is lost owing to postharvest problems, the BPRE study noted. These losses are incurred during harvesting (5.86 percent), hauling (2.14 percent), and transporting (4.5 percent).

About 65 percent of the marketable produce goes to wholesalers, 20 percent to wholesalers-retailers, 14 percent to agents, and 1 percent to retailers.

Of the average production of 17.1 t/ha for carrots, the postproduction losses totaled 9.97 percent–6.51 percent during harvesting, 1.22 percent during hauling, and 2.2 percent during transport. Carrot is sold to wholesalers (66 percent), wholesalers-retailers (22 percent), agents (11 percent), and consumers (1 percent).

Potato production averaged 19 t/ha and the estimated postharvest losses reported by farmers totaled 13.75 percent. Sixty-six percent of the potato harvest goes to wholesalers, 22 percent to wholesalers-retailers, 17 percent to agents, and one percent to consumers.

But postharvest losses can be prevented through proper handling of cabbage, carrot, and other vegetables such as cauliflower and lettuce by using plastic crates in refrigerated trucks during transport, the BPRE research team pointed out, as reported by PCARRD’s Rita Fabro.

Part of the study which is ongoing is the determination of the feasibility of integrating cold storage system in handling highland vegetables from the Cordillera. – Rudy A. Fernandez