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Asian Journal of Plant Sciences

Year: 2002 | Volume: 1 | Issue: 1 | Page No.: 65-66
DOI: 10.3923/ajps.2002.65.66
Post Harvest and Cold Storage Losses in Apple of Balochistan
Nisar Ali Shah, Shahjahan Khan, Manzoor Ahmad Kasi and S.M. Khair

Abstract: The apple of the province is famous for its distant and quality. Where as the significant quantity of apple produced traded to other provinces mainly Punjab and Sindh. Balochistan is the largest province of the country but have the poorest communication and infrastructure development which results in higher post harvest storage and transportation losses. To increase the shelf-life and maintain the quality of perishable produce cool temperature can play an important role. In Balochistan there are two cold stores with the capacity of 700 tones. On an average in cold storage 17 percent damaged apples were found in a crate, the basic reason for this damage was uneven grading and tight package in wooden crates, as mostly the farmer put, the bold apples on top, while the immature and infected apples at the bottom. Out of these 12 percent were not consumed. Furthermore, in a wooden crates there is an additional cost on waste product of apple in the form of packing, transportation, labor, commission, storage, etc. During March 70% of apple were "Shin Kulu" and the rest were other varieties i.e. Tore kulu, Kashmiri, Mashadi, and Gaja. in Quetta market. The grade wise distribution of apple in a crate of 'Tor Kulu' were 10 and 4 kgs with price tag of Rs. 30/ and 16 for A and B grade. It accounts for almost 35 percent of apples produced in Balochistan. Almost, similar trend were reported in 'Shin Kulu' the apple texture is firm which gives it longer shelf life compared to other varieties. The grade wise distribution of apple in 'Shin Kulu’ were 8,5 and 2 kgs. with a price tag of Rs. 24, 12 and 8 for A, B and C grade within the crate, respectively. In other apple varieties i.e., 'Amri' and 'Mashadi' grade wise distribution were 5,7,3 and 7,5,1 kgs. Balochistan marketing channel constitute of producers, contractors, commission agents, ladanwala, whole salers and retailers.

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How to cite this article
Nisar Ali Shah, Shahjahan Khan, Manzoor Ahmad Kasi and S.M. Khair, 2002. Post Harvest and Cold Storage Losses in Apple of Balochistan. Asian Journal of Plant Sciences, 1: 65-66.

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