مقاله انگلیسی رایگان در مورد ضرر پس از برداشت و کاهش کیفیت محصولات باغبانی – الزویر 2018

Agriculture is the mainstay of the Ethiopian economy (Bezabih and Hadera, 2007). The country has highly diversified agro-ecological conditions for the production of different cereal, legumes and horticultural crops (Bekele, 1989; Milaku, 2005). More than 85% of its population is engaged in small scale agricultural production as a major means of livelihood (Bekele, 1989; Fantahun and Williamson, 2001; Bezabih and Hadera, 2007). It contributes for about 50% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), over 90% of export earnings and 73% supplies of raw materials for agro-based domestic industries (Milaku, 2005; Bezabih and Hadera, 2007). Alazar (2007) defined horticultural crops as crops, which are not staple cereals or major industrial crops, but are mainly eaten for their contribution to the flavor and interest of food with flexible consumption based on price, quality and supply. This includes fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices, medicinal and aromatic plants and plantation crops (Choudhury, 2006). Horticultural crop production is the major farming system in the eastern part of Ethiopia such as in Dire Dawa Administration, Fedis, Haramaya, Kombolcha, Kersa, Meta, Kurfa Chelle, Grawa, Jarso and Gemechis. Particularly in the areas where water is available and farmers have access to the market, horticultural production is used as a major source of cash income for households (Milaku, 2005; Bezabih and Hadera, 2007). Although human and material resources are devoted for planting, irrigation, fertilizer application, 50% of horticultural crops are lost due to post-harvest loss (Saxena et al., 1990; Alazar, 2007; Olayemi et al., 2010). Post-harvest losses and quality deterioration of horticultural crops are mostly caused by pests, microbial infection, natural ripening processes and environmental conditions such as heat, drought and improper post-harvest handling (Idah et al., 2007; Olayemi et al., 2010). It occurs through all or at least one of post-harvest activities such as harvesting, handling, storing, processing, packaging, transporting and marketing (Mrema and Rolle, 2002). Even though only limited studies were conducted in Ethiopia, post-harvest loss and quality deterioration of horticultural crops are estimated to be 25–40% (Yohannes, 1989). Particularly, in the eastern part of the country, limited post-harvest improvement studies have been carried out for locally consumed fruits and vegetables. However, fruits such as banana, orange, lemon, pineapple and avocado which exported to Arab countries, Europe and the Middle East are relatively graded and packaged appropriately (Alazar, 2007).