LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET
Agricultural Crop Production NC II
Grade 12, Quarter 4, Week 2
POSTHARVEST EQUIPMENT
Introduction
The quality of produce sent to market and their consequent selling price are
directly affected by the care taken during harvesting and field handling. Whatever the
scale of operations or the resources of labor and equipment available, the planning
and carrying out harvesting operations must observe basic principles.
Equipment used in the post-harvest handling of produce varies widely
according to the specific crop, its intended use, the nature of any enterprise and the
point that produce has reached within the post-handling system.
This activity sheet focused on the Learning Outcome: LO 3 Perform PostHarvest Operation
Monitor postharvest equipment to avoid damage to crops in line with manufacturer/
enterprise procedures.
Specifically, this learning activity sheets aims the learner to:
1. determine the different post-harvest equipment.
2. give the importance of monitoring post-harvest equipment to avoid damage.
3. monitor post-harvest equipment to avoid damages to crops in line with
manufacturer/ enterprise procedures.
A. DIRECTION: Write TRUE if the statement is correct and FALSE if not.
1. The primary objective of post-harvest operations is to maintain product
quality as high as possible and for as long as necessary.
2. Cooling and low temperature storage and handling is probably the
single most important post-harvest process affecting quality
maintenance of perishable produce.
3. Equipment used in the post-harvest handling of produce varies widely
according to the specific crop.
4. Use a flexible drape to slow fruit as it falls from a higher conveyor belt
to a lower one.
5. Motorized forklift trucks are used in large packing houses for moving
palletized loads.
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What are the most common activities you have done to your equipment? What
equipment does in your mind that will be used in harvesting?
Equipment used in the post-harvest handling of produce varies widely
according to the specific crop, its intended use, the nature of any enterprise and the
point that produce has reached within the post-harvest handling system.
This article overviews the wide variety of post-harvest equipment used in steps
from harvest to consumption. These steps include handling, treatment, storage, and
transport operations. Equipment used with perishable versus durable crops is
discussed separately throughout much of this review because their physicochemical
characteristics are inherently very different. The article concludes in considering a
range of policy and future direction issues that are likely to influence, in the context
of social, environmental, and technological imperatives, the ongoing development and
use of post-harvest equipment.
The primary objective of post-harvest operations is to maintain product quality
as high as possible and for as long as necessary. Cooling and low temperature storage
and handling is probably the single most important post-harvest process affecting
quality maintenance of perishable produce.
The equipment needed will be specific to each packing house, according to the
scale of operations and crops handled. It will be simple and much of it can be made
locally. It should be movable, and this means that concrete washing tanks should be
avoided.
Bins or trays manageable by one person are a convenient means of moving
produce up to the point of packing. They can be of wood or of plastic, ideally of highdensity polythene. Plastic containers are more expensive than wood, but they are
easier to keep clean and should last longer (Figure 7.11). Several containers can be
moved at one time. Push-carts can be any sort of two- or four-wheeled trucks like
those used in markets or factories.
Roller conveyors, supported on stands about 75 cm high, are ideal for the
movement of bins or trays through the various stages; they can also be used for loading
and unloading vehicles where containers have to be handled ex. Conveyor Equipment
To reduce bruising:
 Use foam-padded ramps
 Slow produce speed on ramps by installing retarding flaps, curtains, blankets,
or drapes
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 Use a flexible drape to slow fruit as it falls from a higher conveyor belt to a lower
one (use a lightweight drape for short transition, heavier drape for higher
transition)
 Belt to prevent produce from falling directly onto roller sizers
 Remove support pan from under belt in an area where fruit lands on a new belt
individually.
Mechanized moving-belt conveyors can be used but are expensive and better
suited to large operations.
Hand-pushed lift trucks are valuable in larger packing houses where mechanized
means are required for handling unit loads on pallets; these cannot, however, be used
for lifting loaded pallets on to vehicles; to do so, requires that the loading bay be raised
to the height of truck beds or that a mechanical hoist be available for loading.
Motorized forklift trucks are used in large packing houses for moving palletized
loads.
Activity 1: Match Me
Directions: Match Column A (Pictures) with the Column B (Names of Equipment).
Write your answers on your answer sheet.
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
A. Push Carts
1.
B. Bins or Tray
2.
C. Hand-pushed lift trucks
3.
D. Roller Conveyor
4.
Guide Questions:
1. Why equipment is important in harvesting crops?
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Activity 2
Directions: Read the questions intelligently. Write your answer in your answer sheet.
1. What are the common issues or problems encountered in post-harvest handling
and processes? Give at least three (3).
Activity 3: Reflection
I have learned that
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
I have realized that
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
I will do the
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
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A. Directions: Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write your answers on a
separate sheet of paper.
1. The following are materials used to reduce bruising except one. Which is
NOT?
A. Ballpen
B. Belt
C. Flexible drape
D. Foam-padded ramps
2. It is considered valuable in larger packing house where mechanized means
are required for handling unit loads on pallets.
A. Mechanized moving-belt conveyors
B. Hand-pushed lift trucks
C. Motorized fork lift trucks
D. Roller conveyors
3. Which of the following equipment are manageable by one person that will
make convenient on terms of moving produce up to the point of packing?
A. Belt
B. Bins or trays
C. Push carts
D. Roller conveyors
4. Which of the following is true about the equipment used in the post-harvest of
produce?
A. It varies widely according to the specific crop.
B. It should be the same quality.
C. The equipment is uniform in size and color.
D. The equipment should be expensive.
5. What is the primary objective of post-harvest operations?
A. To expand the number of produces.
B. To divide the quantity of the produces.
C. To maintain product quality as high as possible and for as long as
necessary.
D. To grow the quality of the produces.
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Guide question:
Answer vary
1.
2.
3.
4.
B
A
D
C
ACTIVITY 1
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
TRUE
TRUE
TRUE
TRUE
TRUE
PRE
Test
1. A
2. B
3. B
4. A
5. C
POST TEST
IX. References
CBLM Agri-Crop Production
Technology & Livelihood Education Agricultural Crop Production Learner’s Material
Prepared by: RENE JHUN C. TOSING, SST-III
Mabog National High School
Checked by: NOEL L. MILLAN, MT-II
School Head
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