A study of fresh-market tomato handling system in Thailand | |
| Author | Mangalika, Kamathe Gedara Sriya |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no. AE-00-04 |
| Subject(s) | Tomatoes--Thailand Fruit--Handling--Thailand |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. AE-00-04 |
| Abstract | The post harvest handling system of tomatoes in Kamphaeng Saen, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand was studied in order to identify advantages as well as weaknesses in the existing system. Yield losses and time delays in each handling operation from farm to consumers, via three distant wholesale markets at Ta Laad Thai, Si Mum Muang and Pak Klong Ta Laad and their retail shops were estimated using the management model of Illangantilake and Salokhe (1989). The effect of maturity stage on yield losses of tomatoes transported in bamboo baskets and plastic crates was studied for specially prepared samples. Study was done only for Sida variety during its season from January to March. The total time delay (D) from harvesting to delivery to the consumer ranged from 31 to 74.50 h depending on the distance transported and type of the retailing. Yield losses at the farming area subsystem ranged from 1 to 2.2% of the total quantity harvested at site. After that losses for each sample were estimated as a percentage of transport capacity of containers from field collecting point. Four packing methods were considered; i) containers packed with green, breaker, turning and pink maturity stages separately, ii) containers packed in layers varying from green fruits at the bottom to red fruits at the top, iii) containers packed with light red and red fruits separately, and iv) containers packed with fruits of mixed maturity stages as is the common practice. The yield losses in case of i) and ii) were significantly less than in cases iii) and iv). However containers of a single maturity stage were not acceptable to the retailers. Observations were continued only for containers packed in layers (as in case (ii)) and mixed maturity stages (as in case (iv)). The cumulative losses of tomatoes from the farm gate to the consumer ranged from 3.4% to 18.5% of the farm gate weight depending on the distance transported, type of container, method of packing and type of retailing |
| Year | 2000 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. AE-00-04 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (Former title: Department of Food Agriculture, and BioResources (DFAB)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Agricultural and Food Engineering (AE) |
| Chairperson(s) | Salokhe, V. M.; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Singh, G.;Chaiyaphol Kaewprakaisaengkul; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Ministry of Science and Technology, Sri Lanka [ADB Loan No.1535-SRI [SF)] and Asian Institute of Technology; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2000 |