Post Harvest Technology Essay

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2.15. Post-harvest technology of potato Reducing post-harvest losses are one of the efficient approaches in the improvement of potato farmers’ livelihood (Yang, 2000). The actual situations in the rural areas of Asian developing countries indicate that the need for low-cost technology to produce, process and add-value, while maintaining quality of its products. Research on both technology and improvement in infrastructure is critical in reaching this goal (Skerritt and Greg, 2001). With respect to the role of post-harvest technology in the development of Asian economies, Tsubota (1999) noted that post-harvest technologies become more complex along with economic development. Technologies are generally more agricultural production and product-oriented during the early stages of economic development. In this phase, the technologies are not sophisticated and post-harvest enterprises of small-scale, and post-harvest chains are short and simple. Technologies and systems become more complex with development, and at present, many Asian countries are somewhere in the middle stage (Tsubota, 1999). A broad range of potato products is processed and marketed mostly by small-scale producers or traders …show more content…

Respiration is a key metabolic process that tubers undergo and this process allows the release of energy through the breakdown of stored carbon compounds, which in this case is starch. During this process the tuber generates heat, which becomes an important consideration for storage and transportation of potatoes. The need for refrigeration or cool temperatures during the post harvest life of the potato is to slow down the process of respiration and thereby maintain tuber quality. The potato tuber is also roughly made up of 75% water and 25% starch, and therefore is capable of losing the internal water if subjected to low external vapor pressure or relative humidity (CIP,

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