Postharvest Losses along the Supply Chain of Potato in Bangladesh: A Micro-Level Study

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the supply chain of potatoes and determine the factors affecting postharvest losses of potatoes at the producer level of Bangladesh. Data were collected through a face-to-face interview schedule from a sample of total 60- 30 farmers, 6 wholesalers, 5 aratdars, 5 retailers, and 14 consumers in Sirajdikhan and Sadar Upazila of Munshiganj district. Descriptive statistics (percentages, frequencies, etc.) and multiple linear regression analysis were used for this study. The result shows that channel 4 is the longest marketing chain in the study area which includes the marketing actors – farmers, aratdars, wholesalers, retailers, and consumers. In the supply chain of potatoes, the amount of postharvest loss is 6.6% for the producer’s level, 5.3% for the wholesale level, 1.10% for the aratdar level, and 2.1% for the retailer level in the study area. The regression model reveals that age and amount of production have a significant positive relationship, while experience has a significant negative relationship with the postharvest losses of potatoes. The study also shows that lack of storage facility (48.94%) and poor packaging system (32.73%) are the major reasons for occurring postharvest losses of potatoes. The farmers and intermediaries suggested that it is necessary to identify the maturity stage of potatoes at harvesting time (70%), improve the cold storage facility (56.67%), and improve the loading and unloading system (56.25%), etc. for reducing postharvest losses of potato.

Roadmap approach for improving food value chain efficiencies : How to identify and implement interventions for reducing Food Loss and Waste in Dhaka's food system?

“…The described supply channels are 1) assembly traders procuring from producers and selling to wholesalers, then to retailers, 2) assembly traders/wholesalers procure potatoes to put in cold storage and sell to retailers, 3) producers keep potato in cold storage and sells to traders/wholesalers and then it is sold to retailers, 4) exporters procure from producers and export to foreign markets through ocean vessels, 5) processors procure potatoes for processing and then export. K. Akter et al (2022) confirm the diversity in lengths of the value chains for potato. T. Akter et al (2016) show that most value is added at producer level (26.35%) followed by wholesalers (17.86%).…”

“…Various authors have described potato value chains in different regions in Bangladesh (K. Akter et al, 2022;T. Akter et al, 2016;Hossain, 2016;Reardon et al, 2012).…”

“…Various studies have been conducted to estimate FLW in Bangladesh potato value chains (e.g. K. Akter et al, 2022;Hossain, 2016;Hossain & Miah, 2011;Masum et al, 2011, the latter specifically for postharvest losses due to potato diseases), summarized/aggregated in the table below. K. Akter et al (2022) have most recently published on postharvest losses along the value chain of potato in Bangladesh.…”

“…K. Akter et al, 2022;Hossain, 2016;Hossain & Miah, 2011;Masum et al, 2011, the latter specifically for postharvest losses due to potato diseases), summarized/aggregated in the table below. K. Akter et al (2022) have most recently published on postharvest losses along the value chain of potato in Bangladesh. Data were collected through a face-to-face interview schedule from a sample of total 60 farmers, 6 wholesalers, 5 aratdars, 5 retailers, and 14 consumers in Sirajdikhan and Sadar Upazila of Munshiganj district.…”

Marketing system of summer tomato in Jashore district of Bangladesh

“…which done by marketing facilitator. A well-developed supply system is helpful to reduce the post-harvest loss of vegetable (Akter et al, 2022). In that case, it needs to assess the marketing system, marketing channel, marketing cost and margin, prices spread in different level and marketing constraints and their solution of summer tomato at different level.…”