Thesis Abstract

Horticultural crops are highly perishable in nature and suffer significant post-harvest losses if not handled and processed properly. This study aims to analyze different post-harvest technology options available for major horticultural crops grown in India like mango, banana, tomato, onion, etc. Post-harvest losses will be estimated for these crops under traditional handling and storage practices. Various low-cost post-harvest management techniques like minimal processing, modified atmosphere packaging, cold chain infrastructure, etc. will be evaluated for their potential to reduce losses. The economic and environmental feasibility of different options will also be analyzed. The study intends to recommend appropriate post-harvest technology models for small and marginal farmers based on local crop varieties and market access.

Thesis Overview