Evaluation of post harvest handling and marketing of mango (mangifera indica) in Ghana (a case study in Northern Region)
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Date
2011
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
A survey was conducted in the Northern Region of Ghana to evaluate the postharvest handling of mango fruits from the farm gate to the market. Data from the survey were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17 to determine the factors that contribute to postharvest losses of mango fruits in the region. The study revealed that the varieties being cultivated by the farmers in the Region for both export and local markets were; Keitt, Amelie, Kent and Zill. It was also realized that sellers purchase these varieties at the full ripe stage, therefore compelling farmers to harvest at that stage and causing fruits to deteriorate faster. Besides both the farmers and sellers store the harvested mango fruits in baskets, boxes, spread on floor or heaped on the ground, which causes fruit to senescence early. The causes of postharvest losses in the Northern region among mango farmers and sellers were found out to be poor harvesting practices, storage and packaging methods. The results also showed that anthracnose disease affect the matured fruits on the field especially Keitt, which compelled majority of the farmers to remove the plants from their fields. The findings and recommendations of the study will therefore help address the postharvest handling of mango fruits in the Region.
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A Thesis submitted to the Department of Horticulture, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (Postharvest Technology)