Determination of Losses
 It has been very difficult to build any reliable data on the
magnitude of the post-harvest losses. This is because it is so very
different in extent under various conditions and can vary from
shipment to shipment and from fruit to fruit over a period of
time.
 The estimates are obtained by applying a variety of methods.
In doing so, terms like assessment, measurement and estimates
have often been used. Assessment is completely subjective, while
measurement is an objective determination of the samples
selected. Estimation, on the other hand, is the interpretation of
measurement from which all losses can be extrapolated. The
losses can be measured in monetary terms at various steps of the
marketing chain. They can also be measured and expressed by
percentage of units or loss of weight. The loss is deemed to have


occurred only after the unit is considered unfit for human con-
sumption. There are many factors like socio-economic level of
consumers, visual assessment of quality factors like moisture loss,
consumer appeal, etc., which determine whether the fruit is fit or
unfit for human consumption.

 An assessment by the National Academy of Science,
Washington, D.C., and the Food and Agriculture Organisation
of the United Nations of the extent of post-harvest losses in fruits
and vegetables in some developing countries, reveals that in some
cases the post-harvest losses are as low as 5%, whereas in others
they are as high as 50%.
 The study further establishes the magnitude of the problem
and the urgent need to take effective control measures to check
the post-harvest losses in fruits and vegetables.


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