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<p>This study investigates the post-harvest losses, the determinants, the status of know-how and adoption of the PHM practices and associated constraints in onion and potato value chains in India, along with the interventions required to mitigate these losses. Data collected from 240 farmers (120 onion and 120 potato) revealed significant gaps between knowledge and adoption of recommended post-harvest management (PHM) practices. While a majority of farmers demonstrated awareness of best practices, such as improved cultivars, irrigation systems, and proper storage techniques, actual adoption rates were hindered by factors such as unavailability of resources, high costs, and limited access to market intelligence. The analysis found significant post-harvest losses, with 58.33% of onion farmers and 63.33% of potato farmers experiencing high losses. Post-harvest losses in both crops were primarily attributed to inadequate storage facilities, improper curing methods, and inefficiencies in grading and sorting. The study identified that farm size had no significant effect on potato losses, unlike onions, due to differences in harvesting techniques and storage methods. Knowledge levels, crop variety, timely labour availability, and training on Good Management Practices (GMPs) were significant determinants of the level of post-harvest losses. In onions, training had a greater impact on reducing losses, given the crop's requirement for more complex post-harvest handling, such as curing and sorting. The study identified several critical interventions, with 94% of respondents prioritizing community storage facilities at the local level. Other key recommendations included establishing automatic weather stations, enhancing capacity-building programs, and implementing commodity-specific processing centres to add value to surplus produce. Furthermore, the need for robust market information systems and government interventions, such as setting minimum support prices (MSP) and offering financial support for PHM infrastructure, was strongly emphasized. The findings underscore the importance of a multi-faceted approach involving technical, infrastructural, marketing, and financial solutions to reduce post-harvest losses, improve farmer livelihoods, and ensure food security. These results provide valuable insights for policymakers, agricultural extension services, and stakeholders in the agricultural value chain.</p>

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Mitigating Post-Harvest Losses in Onion and Potato for Sustainable Food Systems

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年9月1日

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  • Subhashree Sahu,
  • J. P. Sharma,
  • R. R. Burman,
  • Reshma Gills,
  • Satyapriya

摘要

This study investigates the post-harvest losses, the determinants, the status of know-how and adoption of the PHM practices and associated constraints in onion and potato value chains in India, along with the interventions required to mitigate these losses. Data collected from 240 farmers (120 onion and 120 potato) revealed significant gaps between knowledge and adoption of recommended post-harvest management (PHM) practices. While a majority of farmers demonstrated awareness of best practices, such as improved cultivars, irrigation systems, and proper storage techniques, actual adoption rates were hindered by factors such as unavailability of resources, high costs, and limited access to market intelligence. The analysis found significant post-harvest losses, with 58.33% of onion farmers and 63.33% of potato farmers experiencing high losses. Post-harvest losses in both crops were primarily attributed to inadequate storage facilities, improper curing methods, and inefficiencies in grading and sorting. The study identified that farm size had no significant effect on potato losses, unlike onions, due to differences in harvesting techniques and storage methods. Knowledge levels, crop variety, timely labour availability, and training on Good Management Practices (GMPs) were significant determinants of the level of post-harvest losses. In onions, training had a greater impact on reducing losses, given the crop's requirement for more complex post-harvest handling, such as curing and sorting. The study identified several critical interventions, with 94% of respondents prioritizing community storage facilities at the local level. Other key recommendations included establishing automatic weather stations, enhancing capacity-building programs, and implementing commodity-specific processing centres to add value to surplus produce. Furthermore, the need for robust market information systems and government interventions, such as setting minimum support prices (MSP) and offering financial support for PHM infrastructure, was strongly emphasized. The findings underscore the importance of a multi-faceted approach involving technical, infrastructural, marketing, and financial solutions to reduce post-harvest losses, improve farmer livelihoods, and ensure food security. These results provide valuable insights for policymakers, agricultural extension services, and stakeholders in the agricultural value chain.