Office of Agriculture Economics
August 2013
Outline
Current Status ( focus on Losses in Fruits and Vegetables )
Problem
Policies and Strategies
Suggestions for APEC Cooperation
Percentage of crop production area in
four regions of Thailand in 2011
Source: Amara Chinaphuti, Department of Agriculture
Major Fruits & Vegetables of Thailand
Fruits
Vegetables
 Mango
 Chinese cabbage
 Pineapple
 head cabbage
 longan,
 tomato, chili
 Pummelo
 ginger, potato
 Durian
 Mangosteen
 Rambutan
 Kluaikai banana
 Lychee
 onion, garlic
 Lettuce, sweet pepper
 basil leaf
 water spinach, parsley
 cucumber, yard long
 bean, baby corn and cauliflower.
Post-harvest losses in Thailand
Fruit: 20-50%
Vegetable: 30%
Rice: 30%
Source: Department of Agriculture
Post-harvest Losses of some
Selected Fruits in Thailand
Process
Harvest
Transport
Market
Post-harvest losses (%)
Mango
Citrus
10-50%
5-30%
14-47%
1-4%
10-40%
2-20%
Source: Department of Agriculture
Losses of Vegetable from Farm to the
Wholesale Markets in Thailand (%)
Crop
Weight loss Defect
Gourd
1.33
Bitter gourd
1.59
Cucumber
2.55
Sweet pepper
4.88
Pepper
3.26
Tomato
3.33
Cabbage
1.49
Source: Amara Chinaphuti
1.48
2.19
3.77
5.13
3.96
6.89
3.19
Crop
Weight loss Defect
Kale
3.41
Lettuce
2.87
Rape
2.87
Chive
2.88
Chinese cabbage
1.57
Parsley
8.47
Spring onion
4.81
4.83
2.58
2.35
2.35
3.32
7.73
4.49
The Status of Post harvest Technology in
Thailand: Post harvest Loss (PHL)
Major Causes of PHL
Physiological factor
Biological factor
Physical factor
Physiological factors
Inferior fruit quality due to immature fruit occur at the harvest
time
Uneven ripening
Browning and chilling injury of fruit and vegetable
Water loss due to transpiration rate
Ethylene effects
Biological factors
Physical factors
Diseases
Mechanical injury
Insect pest
Poor harvesting practices
Inappropriate packaging
Poor temperature and
humidity control
Poor transportation and
road infrastructure
Losses due to Poor Handling
and Packaging
Losses due to Poor Storage
Problem
 Lack of proper knowledge and technology transfer to the
farmers.
 Postharvest infrastructure and technologies are costly and
sometimes does not give a economic returns.
 Less funds are available for R&D.
 Lack of investment/involvement of local manufactures in
constructing small scale need based postharvest
infrastructure
 Less awareness of policy makers and general public for
the need to reduce/prevent food losses after harvest
Problem
 Low prices on the local market which discourage the
farmer to use the proper packaging and transportation.
 High packaging and transportation cost.
 After harvesting, most of farmers are not aware of
methods to prepare the produce in proper manners such
as cleaning, grading and trimming are not carried out
systematically.
 Less co-operation among the stakeholders in quality
management system along the production chain
Policies and Strategies
 The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC) has launched its Food
Security Strategic Framework (2013-2016)
 The MOAC’s Food Security Framework consists of
1
2
4 Strategic Trusts.
3
4
Produce
Support
Enhance
Maintain
adequate
everyone
quality
food
stability
food for
to have
of food
sustainable
an access
production,
to food
domestic
reduce waste
consumption
and utilize
properly
3. Enhance quality of agri. food production,
reduce waste and utilize properly
Guide lines:
 Reduce the losses in agri. food production by support R&D
and promote (1) food processing technologies in order to
increase value-added of food and agricultural product (2)
post-harvesting technologies to maintain quality and shelf
life of food as long as possible.
 Support reducing the loss of food waste from the
unnecessarily consumption, by raising awareness about an
impact on food security and campaign throughout local and
national level
 Develop agricultural information system and access to
information (Create network of agri. info, Develop of agriculture media as
ways for transferring agriculture technology and innovation to farmers)
Suggestions for APEC Cooperation
 Strengthen the information system projects within the
framework of international cooperation.
 Support a joint research and study on food waste food losses
in APEC economy.
 Continue to provide forum for discussion on knowledge, best
practice and technologies to reduce post-harvest loss in
region.
 Develop joint initiatives and efforts to reduce food losses.
Thank you