Fruits Project

5/17/2018 Fruits Project - slidepdf.com

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K.ShanthanuK.Shanthanu

11stst year B.Tech.-Horticultureyear B.Tech.-Horticulture

Horticulture College and Research InstituteHorticulture College and Research Institute

TNAUTNAU

CoimbatoreCoimbatore

Harvest and Post Harvest handling of Harvest and Post Harvest handling of

BananaBanana



Harvesting of banana

• TIME OF HARVEST

• Bananas are harvested raw and ripened artificially.

The dwarf bananas are ready for harvest within 11-

14 months after planting, while tall cultivars take

about 14-16 months to harvest. A bunch usuallytakes 90-120 days to mature after shooting,

depending on climate and cultural practices.



Maturity Indices of Harvest

• The maturity of banana is indicated by

• drying of top leaves, change in colour

• of fruits from dark green to light green

• tendency of the floral end of the

• fruit to fall by slightest touch by hand.• The mature fruit becomes plumpy and all the angles are

filled in completely.

• When tapped the fruit gives metallic sound.



Method of Harvest

• The method of harvesting depends on the

height of the plant. Low growing varieties

are harvested by cutting through the bunchstalk about 30-35 cm above the top hand.

With taller varieties, the stem of the plant

will be partly cut through to bring the bunchdown within the harvester's reach.



Mechanical Banana HarvesterMechanical Banana Harvester

In 1998 Tom Johnston built the first

pototype, which proved it could reach

and cut a banana bunch. Being only a2 tonne excavator though, it could not

handle the weight and duly toppled

over.

From there Tom went to Komatsu with

his invention; they supplied a second-hand 4.5 ton excavator. The second

prototype with modifications such as

rubber tracks, extendable boom,

upgraded hydraulics and grab

modifications, proved mechanicalharvesting would work.

In 2000 a third prototype of the

Harvester was released at the Gold

Coast World Banana Congress

(Queensland Australia).

http://var/www/apps/conversion/current/tmp/scratch32354/harvest01.htm



Modern Harvesting MethodsModern Harvesting Methods

Figure shows the instrument/

equipment developed for holding the banana bunch prior

to cutting . The backer carries

the fruit and attaches it to a

nearby overhead cableway

where the stem is transported to

the packing shed. It can also be

transported in carts. In the

packing shed, the bananas are

removed by hand by skilledworkers and washed. They also

go through quality control,

before being packed in

cardboard boxes.



CIPHET Banana Comb/Hand Cutter CIPHET Banana Comb/Hand Cutter

CIPHET Banana-comb cutter

maintains smooth cutting curve of banana-comb, with no fruit damage

during cutting as in case of knife or

sickle cutting, some banana-finger

getting damaged. With this tool oneperson performs the banana- comb

cutting activity with less stress as

compared to the traditional method

of cutting. As such no data is

available regarding percentage

damage of banana-bunch, banana-

comb or banana-fingers during

cutting by presently used sickle by

traders or farmers.



1. Irrigation of banana plantations should be stopped well in

advance of the harvest date, preferably a

week, so as to facilitate drying of the soil for movement of labour,

harvesting, loading, etc.

2. Temporary sheds should be erected near banana fields and all

operations such as cutting into

hands, application of fungicidal paste should be carried out under

the shade.

3. Bunches selected should be green, three-fourths ripe, whole, freefrom rubbing, scratching, bruises,

sunburns or other blemishes. Bunches having malformed fingers,

octopus-shaped hands, broken,

torn or split fingers etc. should be rejected.

Harvest for Export



4. Three quarters full stage is recognized by sharpangularities of the fingers. In some banana growing

countries, the bunches are marked with date and month

as soon as the inflorescence is shot. Under

irrigated conditions the variety 'Dwarf Cavendish' takes

99-107 days to reach three quarters full

maturity.

5. 'Dwarf Cavendish' banana at three-fourths full maturityshows a pulp skin ratio of 1.35 to 1.40 under

normal conditions and this gives a fairly accurate index

of maturity.

Harvest for Export



Harvesting for Export

• 6. For cutting (harvesting) the bunches, one cutter and one helper arerequired. The bunch should be

• cut in one stroke 20 cm to 25 cm above the first band or 7.5 cm to 10cm from the tip of the fingers of the

• first hand. The helper should hold the same portion and place itcarefully on the freshly cut leaves

• spread on the ground. The last hand is removed if undersized.• 7. For carrying bunches to packing shed it is necessary that after 15

minutes of harvest, when the latex

• flow ceases, the bunches should be taken two at a time on stretchersand should not be allowed to

• come into contact with soil.



Post-harvest HandlingPost-harvest Handling

Banana bunches are hung on tramways and pulled out of plantings by

tractors or people. Fruit are shipped by boat when green, and ripened by

exposure to ethylene gas (1000 ppm for 24 hr) at their destination, in

sealed "banana ripening rooms".

U i O i i P H



Unit Operations in Post HarvestUnit Operations in Post Harvest

ManagementManagement

Fruits and Vegetables

•Preharvest treatment•Harvesting at Maturity

•Safe harvesting•Pre cooling & washing•Surface drying•Cool/cold storage•Safe transport•Safe handling

Higher the Value Addition Better the PHHigher the Value Addition Better the PH

Management and Lower Will Be LossesManagement and Lower Will Be Losses



Post harvest

As soon as the plants are harvested they are stored in

shade . If they are kept under sunlight scorching

may occur and the fruits respire more leading to

losses and reduction in fruit quality. Therefore thefruits must be kept in a suitable shady and dry place



Cleaning, Packing and TransportCleaning, Packing and Transport



Packing and TransportPacking and Transport

The banana bunches harvested at

optimum maturity are wrapped with driedbanana levels before packing into in lorries

or railways wagons for long distance

transport.

At destination the bunches are dehanded

and sold in retail outlets.

In Tamil Nadu, Hill banana 'Virupakshi' is

dehanded in the plantation itself and are

packed in small lots of 500 fruits each and

marketed in Madras and Dindigul. In

Kerala,

the Nendran bunches are marketed as

whole bunches itself.

International market accepts separated

bananas from bunches and properly

cleaned and packed in appropriate packs

Carry the bunch inCarry the bunch in

plastic basketsplastic baskets



Packing and TransportPacking and Transport

• Individual bagging of clusters in perforated

polythene bags is recommended.

Polypropylene bags add visibility so those mustbe used. Bag packaging reduces weight loss,

promotes good peel colour on ripening and

reduces abrasion of one fruit on the next.• Weigh to specified weight to avoid under- or

overweight as quality will be impaired under

both conditions.• Correct choice of bag: perforated or non-

perforated modified atmosphere packaging.• Well-trained staff for handling and packaging• High quality, recyclable packaging material,

glued/sealed instead of stapled.• Full audit-trail information on every carton, plus

all legally required information.• Palletization at the point of packing is highly

desirable to ensure maintenance quality and

avoid excessive handling/mishandling.



Bunch CoveringBunch Covering

•Bagging is common in the French West

Indies, Latin America, Africa, Australia.•Protects bunches against cold, sun

scorching, against attack of thrips and

scarring beetle. Bunch covering with dry

leaves is a common practice in India,

•Temperatures under the cover can be2° - 6°C warmer, and during cool times of

the year this can increase fruit length and

hasten fruit filling (harvest four to 14 days

earlier).

•In warmer climate like India reflectivesilver covers and pulling down a leaf over

the cover can be followed.•Perforated covers are also used to

reduce sunburn damage for export

production overseas.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e4/BananasBlueBagStLucia.jpg



Reasons for LossesReasons for Losses

1. Handling of raw produce through many stages of middlemen.

2. Processing is mostly controlled by urban rather than

rural entrepreneurs which leads to losses in valuable by

products.

3. Non availability of adequate and efficient equipment and

machinery to be used in catchment areas.

4. Low level of entrepreneurial urge in rural areas due to

constraints of finance, assured market and proper

training on technology5. On the whole, there exists a fragmented and inefficient

value chain



Mechanical DamageMechanical Damage

•Mechanical damage is one of the major factors leading to

post-harvest deterioration of banana•Mechanical damage can detract from the product's

appearance and increase potential for infection by diseases.



Sources of Mechanical DamageSources of Mechanical Damage

Impact-

Impact damage can result in bruising with or without skin rupture. Impactbruises are caused from a sharp blow such as an object falling onto the

fruit or fruit falling against another fruit or onto a hard surface with

sufficient force to damage or even separate the cells. Impact damage

can occur throughout the entire marketing process from harvesting

through to the consumer.

Pressure (or compression)Pressure (or compression) damage results from excessive pressure on

the fruit. Pressure damage can be caused by other fruits and occurs

primarily during and after packing as a result of forcing too much

produce into too small a container (i.e. over-packed or where packages

are stacked too high).Vibrations

Vibration damage is mainly associated with transportation and results

from repeated and prolonged vibration of the fruit. This damage is

greatest in the top layers of fruit, particularly where there is a loose

packVibration damage is particularly severe in loosely packed fruits.



Factors Affecting Mechanical DamageFactors Affecting Mechanical Damage

Pre-harvest factors

Pre-harvest factors are weather, wind, spraying and fertilizer application,insect pests, birds, rodents and farm implements.

Harvesting factors

Due to poor harvesting and handling techniques. Soil adhering to fruits

(when allowed to fall down during harvesting) at harvest can also cause

damage by scarring fruits when the soil is removed or washed away.

Post-harvest factorsPost-harvest factors which can contribute to mechanical damage include:

•Over-packing and under-packing of fruits.

•Poor packaging and handling of packed fruits during loading and

unloading.

•Vibration (shaking) of vehicles especially on bad roads, speed of transportation and type of suspension.

There is still a long way to go in the field of post



There is still a long way to go in the field of post

harvest development. wherever we may be it is out

duty to educate the farmers about these practices

and help them to maximize profit and earn what

they really deserve

THANK YOU

Fruits Project

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