Browsing by Author "Opara, Ikechukwu Kingsley"

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    Understanding postharvest losses of pomegranate fruit in South Africa : magnitude, causes and impacts
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-03) Opara, Ikechukwu Kingsley; Opara, Umezuruike Linus; Fawole, Olaniyi Amos; Kelly, Candice; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership.
    ENGLISH SUMMARY: Fruit and vegetables losses contribute to a substantial amount of food losses, and this has remained a significant problem in the food system despite the technological innovations to prolong shelf life. The high water content (often >80%) and succulent nature of most fruit and vegetables make them susceptible to insect damage, bruises, superficial injuries, rots and spoilage. Pomegranate fruit is one of the commercially grown fruit in South Africa and is highly susceptible to losses due to environmental factors (such as sunburn, crack and splits) and mechanical damage in the form of superficial injuries and bruises. Despite the rapid growth of the pomegranate industry in South Africa, there is lack of data on the magnitude and impacts of postharvest fruit losses and waste along the value chain, and this inhibits management decision on the application of appropriate control measures to specific loss hotspots. Therefore, this research aims to determine the extent of postharvest losses and waste of pomegranate fruit in South Africa and to assess the economic, natural resource and environmental impacts. The study followed a mixed method using qualitative and quantitative data. Numerical data on fruit losses were collected by sorting and counting the discarded fruit to quantify the magnitude and identify the causes of loss at the farm and packhouse, respectively. Qualitative data such as method of fruit handling during harvesting and packhouse processes were collected by close inspection and physical examination of individual fruit. The results showed that about 15.3 to 20.1% of the harvested pomegranate fruit were lost at the farm and 6.74 to 7.69% at the packhouse in South Africa annually. Defects due to environmental factors including sunburn, crack and splits accounted for 43.93% of all on-farm losses and 49.44% of total packhouse fruit losses, while mechanical damage accounted for 17.99% and 37.84% of the on-farm and packhouse losses, respectively. The losses represent revenue loss of about R826,472,659.50 ($50,219,211.90) annually and contribute to wastage of natural resources and negative environmental impacts such as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Therefore, strategies to reduce postharvest losses of pomegranate fruit should include target preharvest environmental control (such as temperature and sunlight) and orchard management (such as irrigation, crop load, pest and diseases) factors, and improvement of harvesting and handling.