Estimation of Post-Harvest Losses in Kinnow Mandarin in Punjab Using a Modified Formula

This study undertaken in Punjab on kinnow mandarin has suggested toinclude marketing loss in the estimation of marketing margins, price spreadand efficiency and has used a modified formula for it. It has been observedthat a majority of kinnow producers sell their orchards to the pre-harvestcontractors/ traders at different stages. The aggregate post-harvest lossesfrom orchards to consumers in kinnow in two different markets rangesfrom 14.87 per cent in Delhi market to 21.91 per cent in Bangalore market. Ithas indicated the necessity of establishing kinnow processing industriesfor development of value-added ready-to-serve (RTS) quality products,minimizing post-harvest losses and providing remunerative price to theproducers. The results have emphasized that efforts should be made toadopt improved packaging techniques, cushioning material and coldstorage facilities at the retail level. The producer’s share in consumer’sprice as estimated by old method has been found higher in local marketthan Bangalore and Delhi markets, largely because of lower marketingcosts and profit margins of traders. The inclusion of marketing loss in theestimation of marketing margins, price spread and efficiency has indicatedthat the old estimation method unduly over-states the farmers’ net priceand profit margins to the market middlemen. It is appropriate to use modifiedmethod for the estimation of marketing margins and price spread.