Availability and Post-harvest losses of fruits and vegetable in Bihar: Economic Analysis

Abstract

Bihar is the rich state with abundance natural resources and wide range of diversity in agriculture in comparison to other growing states of the country.Horticultural crops constitute a significant component of total agricultural production of the country and cover nearly 11.6 million ha area with a total production of over 91 million tonnes per year. Production of fruits and vegetables play an important role in generating employment, income and meeting household nutritional security. The combined annual production of fruits and vegetables in India is likely to cross 377 million tonnes (MT) mark by 2021 from the current level of over 227 MT. However, the projected production of fruits and vegetables would only cater to domestic demand leaving no scope for growth on export front due to the huge wastage would continue to rise simultaneously in absence of on-farm processing facilities. Post-harvest losses are very high in fruit, vegetables and root crops as they are much less hardy and are quickly perishable, and if care is not taken in their harvesting, handling and transport, they soon decay and become unfit for human consumption. The importance of post-harvest management for fruit and vegetable trade should not be ignored. New strategies need to be developing to promote adoption of post-harvest technology by the fruit and vegetable growers for good marketing. The creation of market infrastructure from export point of view such as creation of pre- cooling, cold storage, air cargo, packinghouse etc. may be taken up by the concerted efforts of the state government. There is also need to develop the efficient marketing systems with better storage facilities and less number of middlemen for the ultimate welfare of farmers. Thus, the policy makers should promote processing of fruits and vegetables for value addition and also explore export avenues.