Abstract:
The study was conducted to quantify the post-harvest losses (PHL) of cut-flowers at various levels of market intermediaries' i.e. farm, commission agent, wholesale market and retail levels. Primary data were collected from district Kasur, Lahore, Sheikhupura, and Faisalabad. The respondents were selected by employing the stratified random sampling technique. SPSS was used for the descriptive statistics and multiple regression model analysis for econometric estimation. The econometric estimation revealed that variable of education, experience, floriculture area, picking method; picking time and extension services had a significant impact on losses on farm level, whereas education and infrastructure showed a significant effect on losses at a commission agent level. The determinants of PHL at the wholesale level were experience, loading method, and cold storage, transportation while education, unsold quantity, retailer type, kind of shop and storage place had a significant effect on losses at the retailer level. Proper training and scientific knowledge should be given to traders regarding storage, grading, handling, displaying and processing of flowers. The study suggests adopting a scientific approach to minimize these losses.
Page(s):
272-279
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Pakistan Journal of Science, Volume: 68, Issue: 3, Year: 2016
Keywords:
Pakistan
,
postharvest losses
,
estimation
,
CutFlowers
,
Econometric
,
Market Intermediaries