Study on quality and safety issues in the horticultural marketing chains to provide nutritious food in Bangladesh

Abstract

Fruits and vegetable are an important sub-sector in the agricultural sector because they are valued as protective food. They are very rich sources of mineral vitamins providing more energy. The contribution of horticultural remains extremely important for ensuring food and nutritional security in Bangladesh. A large proportion Bangladeshi population is food insecure due to poor diet quality, not only food nutritional security is also underscored by the present government. The main reasons for the losses are physiological and Biochemical process, Microbial decay, high perish ability and substandard post harvest handling infrastructures. This study was designed to assess quality and safety issue in the horticultural marketing chains to provide nutritious food in Bangladesh and explore the relationship between farmers, middleman, whole sellers and retailers in the horticultural marketing chains and some selected characteristics. It was conducted in combination of desk review of various sources like reports, journals, books documents, and others, and in-depth interview of the identified main stakeholders (supply chain actors like farmers, Middlemen, wholesalers, and retailers). Findings of the study explain that harvesting is done at any time of the day and knowledge on maturity indices is often inadequate. Packaging is done using gunny bags, used fertilizer sacks, bamboo baskets etc. that provide little protection to perishables. Head loads, rickshaw, van, bicycles, etc. gunny heavy loads of haphazardly packed produce from production sites to market. Trucks and launch boat carrying tightly packed produce in unventilated heavy loads. Untimely harvesting and rough handling is a major cause of nutritional loss followed by inappropriate and or poorly-designed harvesting tools and harvest containers, inadequate field sorting, grading and packing protocols, lack of knowledge about pre-cooling technology, poor infrastructure, lack of appropriate transport systems; shortage of refrigerated transport; poor temperature management, loading and unloading practices also cause of nutritional losses. The study emphasizes replication of further researches to reduce national losses of nutrient and to make changes in supply chain. To develop a harmonized national plan of action supported with the necessary resources for its effective implementation. Hence, the present study was aimed at conducting extensive survey to collect information on the existing pre and post harvest practices for selected fruits and vegetable assess the postharvest losses (Quantitative and Nutritional) at different stages of supply chain. The result of the present study recommended to the policy makers to develop strategic national plan to minimize post harvest losses of fruits and vegetables to maintain nutritional quality in the supply chain and carry out nutritional training at all stages of primary and secondary levels in order to create nutritional awareness. The study was carried out that,61.4% growers, 31.82% whole seller, and 49.99% middle men use bamboo basket to sell their products (Fruits & Vegetables). It is revealed that 61.4% farmer do not wash their products after harvest and only 38.6% farmers wash their products after harvest. The present study also found that grading of FVs (Fruits and Vegetables) is poorly practiced. Some growers and intermediaries were found to practice grading of their products only based on visual judgment. There is no scientific methods of grading of grade standards of fruits and vegetables in my study area. The study found that 59.1% respondent(farmer) use manure and fertilizer and 45.45% respondent apply fertilizer by their own calculation, 90.9% respondent (farmer) do not analyze their soil before growing. The result presented that 56.8%respondent (growers) used pesticides to grow their vegetables and fruits, 59.09% growers use insecticides and fungicides by the selection process from the dealer. During my study it was observed that the79.55% middlemen are packaging together or separately and transport together 29.55% to the distant market for the wholesaler. Sometimes72.72% middlemen thrown away average 5% products before packaging due to damage. The study revealed that 31.82% middlemen said that 2% of their products damaged during transportation. The result has found that middle men and whole sellers were involved with banana ripening either by using conventional or chemical methods. It is observed that 25% middlemen use ripening chemical and 13.64% ripenining the banana by conventional method. The study found that 77% retailers spray water on the vegetables or fruits to keep it fresh and attractive to the consumers. The sources of water is from river, pond, canal and supplied water. It is also found that 77.27% retailers collect water from other sources to spray on their purchased horticultural products to keep it fresh for long time. The result has shown that 40.91% retailer has lost 2% of their commodities (FVs) during transportation and 45.45% retailer discarded their goods due to mechanical damage. About 38.64% wholesalers use ripening chemicals.. The study also revealed that 61.4% growers suffer from health hazards due to use of pesticides.