Result and Discussion 02

3.3.
4 Loss assessment by sampling at farmer and wholesaler level

3.3.4.1 Loss assessment at farmer level
Postharvest losses of tomato at farm level in the study areas are shown in Table 3.11.
Postharvest losses were measured by sampling from 3 sample floating gardens in 3 different
growing seasons. Average harvesting loss were due to pest and disease damages, left on the
floating garden and no harvest during peak harvest time as the price was very low. Average
infested fruits were 0.20%, 1.88% and 1.04%, respectively. It was found that losses of tomato
from June to September was higher than other seasons. It might be due to adverse weather
condition, there were raining during harvesting periods and pest and disease problem were
high in rainy season. They responded that green or early harvested tomato has better demand
and price at collectors and Nyaung Shwe wholesaler level. If fruits were harvested at fully
ripe and pest and disease infested, local collectors and wholesalers were not willing to pay for
tomatoes. So, decays and mechanical damage were discarded.
The weight of the tomatoes left in the field were collected and weighted in a farm.
Based upon the average weight collected from 3 sample floating gardens, losses were either
left on the plants or discarded on the ground in the field. Average losses were 2.89%, 1.56%
and 1.32%, respectively.
During the study period, sample farmers left their tomato in their field without
harvesting during peak harvest time as the price was very low. At that time, they were even
unable to cover cost of laborers and tomatoes were not harvested until a buyer appears. This
was becoming reason for late harvesting and without harvesting. Among the three seasons,
April to June was higher than other seasons. It might be that postharvest losses from that farm
during the final harvesting day alone was 7.23%. Farmer responded that he neglected the
plants and did not use any agricultural inputs to the field because there was gradually
decreasing water and price were also low. Moreover, they also mentioned that they sold their
produce to collectors and a few of them also sold to retailers. Price was not satisfactory for
farmers because of higher supply of the produce at a peak harvesting time. This was also the
main reason for price fall at peak time. (Kitinoja, Odeyemi, Dubey, Musanase & Gill, 2019)
mentioned that losses are higher in the years when marketing the tomato is difficult due to
imbalances in supply and demand for the product. And also, the produce is not harvested
until a buyer appears in those years. Other researcher also stated that higher supply of the
produce at a peak harvesting time was reasons for unsatisfactory market condition (Banjaw,
2017).
Table 3.11: Postharvest losses of tomato at farmer level in different growing seasons of
Inle Lake
Losses (%) in different growing season

Causes of losses
Average
April to June June to Sept Sept to Jan
Pest and disease 0.20 1.88 1.04 1.04
1.92
Left on the floating garden 2.89 1.56 1.32
4.14
No harvest due to low price 7.23 3.01 2.19
7.11
Total losses 10.32 6.45 4.55
(a) Infested fruits (b) Discarded fruits
(c) No harvest due to low price
Plate 3: Losses at farmer level in different growing seasons

3.3.4.2 Losses at wholesaler level
Postharvest losses were measured in Than Lwin Kyaw depot for two seasons. Total
storage amount were 7440 kg from June to July and 8760 kg from September to October
(Table 3.12). Losses were measured by weighting defects, decay, mechanical damage and
discards for tomatoes during their storage period. Postharvest losses were 3.81% and 6.59%,
respectively. It was observed that losses of tomato from September to October was higher
than June to July. It could be that total storage amount of second season was higher than first
season and they placed tomatoes on top of each other and made a huge heap in their
warehouse. This will lead to spoilage of fruits at the bottom due to high heat generated and
condensation which encourage mould to grow on the surface of the fruits. Moreover, daily
laborers threw tomatoes which reached to heaping place and even walk on top of heaped
produce during storage period and box filling. They responded that losses were higher in
second season due to heavy rain. When tomatoes reached to their warehouse, fruits were
getting wet. If so, decay and damages percent were higher during storage period. Moreover,
pests and diseases problem during storage was a concern.
Table 3.12: Total losses (%) of tomato at wholesaler level due to removal of
unmarketable fruits during storage in Nyaung Shwe
Storage duration Total storage amount (kg) Total amount of losses (kg) Losses %
June to July 7440 283.22 3.81
Sep to Oct 8760 577.6 6.59
Average 2100 430.41 5.2
Plate 4: Losses at wholesaler level in Nyaung Shwe

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3.3.

4 Loss assessment by sampling at farmer and wholesaler level

Losses (%) in different growing season

Pest and disease 0.20 1.88 1.04 1.04

(a) Infested fruits (b) Discarded fruits

(c) No harvest due to low price

Plate 3: Losses at farmer level in different growing seasons

June to July 7440 283.22 3.81

Sep to Oct 8760 577.6 6.59

Average 2100 430.41 5.2

Plate 4: Losses at wholesaler level in Nyaung Shwe

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