No abstract

Orange is one of the most import fruit crops that generate additional cash income for market actors. The study was investigated the marketing system of orange , value addition, roles and functions of value chain actors with the help of primary data collected from both farmers (forty) through simple random sampling and value chain actors (thirty) through purposive sampling by using structured questionnaire and face to face interview technique. The gross return and net return of farmers were estimated Tk. 2, 70,000 and Tk. 22084.77 per hectare respectively. Per quintal value addition of orange of bepari, aratdar, wholesaler and retailer were estimated at Tk. 800, Tk. 340, Tk. 700 and Tk. 1000 respectively. The net marketing margin per quintal of orange of bepari, aratdar, wholesaler and retailer were estimated at Tk. 293.59, Tk. 107.32, Tk. 356.46 and Tk. 700.8 respectively. Among the different actors, retailer incurred highest (in percentage) value addition and net marketing margin. On the other hand, aratdar incurred lowest marketing cost and marketing margin and bepari incurred highest (in percentage) marketing cost but adding second highest value in compare to another.Progressive Agriculture 27 (3): 327-338, 2016

Aims: The present study highlighted the post-harvest loss assessment and marketing practices of fruits at different stages of marketing and their impact on farmers’ net price, marketing costs, margins, and efficiency from both farmers and various intermediaries (bepari, wholesaler, and retailer). Study Design: This article is a post-harvest loss assessment study and is placed on empirical analysis. The study considered post-harvest losses in farm and intermediaries’ level and its market practices which impact on farmer’s income, net price, marketing margin, and efficiency. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at Sreemangal Upazila of Maulvibazar district of Bangladesh. Data were collected from April to May for lemon and May to June for pineapple, 2019 as this time period is the harvesting season of lemon and pineapple. Methodology: The relevant data were collected from the farmers and intermediaries of lemon and pineapple of Maulvibazar District, Bangladesh. The sample size for lemon and pineapple was 240, where 80 farmers and 40 intermediaries were taken from four villages of Sreemangal Upazila in Maulvibazar district. Data from farmers were collected through simple random sampling based on the list of farmers and for intermediaries purposive sampling techniques was used as there had no fixed list of intermediaries in the study area. Data was analyzed by using Microsoft Excel and Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). Results: Total post-harvest loss of lemon was 20.57% and 23.99% for pineapple of total production at farm level. The highest loss was estimated at 87.93 kg/quintal at the intermediaries’ level in the case of lemons, and 16.50 kg/quintal was for pineapples at farm level. Among different intermediaries, post-harvest loss of lemons was highest at the retail level (70.93 kg/quintal) and for pineapples at the wholesale level (9.18 kg/quintal). The net price received by the farmers for pineapple was greater that the farmers for lemon. Before and after separating losses, according to the conventional method, the net price received by the farmers was Tk. 10.06/kg and 17.13/kg for lemon and Tk. 15.58/kg and Tk. 20.01/kg for pineapple. After taking into account the physical loss during retailing, the margin of the retailers is less (loss) than other intermediaries indicated that they incurred a net loss during the retail trade due to high post-harvest losses. Conclusion: It has been concluded that pineapple marketing is a more efficient system in terms of both operations and price than lemon. The total marketing cost was lower at farm level on lemon and pineapple compared to intermediaries’ level. Marketing cost has been identified as the major constraint in the wholesale marketing channel, and bringing down the costs, particularly the loading and unloading and transportation charges as demonstrated in the marketing channel, will help reduce the price-spread and increase the producers’ margin. The need for specialized transport vehicles for perishable commodities has been highlighted.

Aims: Post-harvest losses are acknowledged as one of the major reasons for fresh grain production, especially fruit production in most developing countries. Thus, the present study is highlighted the perishable nature of the food and inefficient post-harvest management are one of the key reasons for fruit (pineapple) losses in the Moulvibazar district. Study Design: This article is about determinants of post-harvest losses study and is placed on empirical analysis. It was carried out to find out what factors influence pineapple post-harvest losses at the farm level. Place and Duration of Study: Sreemangal, Barlekha, Kulaura, Juri, and Rajnagar Upazilas were purposively chosen for this study because they represent the five most important pineapple producing locations in the Moulvibazar district. The study period was the harvesting season of pineapple from April to June 2019. Methodology: Structured questionnaires were used to collect relevant information during face-to-face interviews with 320 pineapple farmers who were chosen using simple random sampling. Then the data were examined using descriptive and inferential statistics such as chi-square and factor analysis. Results: The descriptive analysis shows that, based on the ranking of percentage, all pineapple farmers (100%) were engaged in the marketing of pineapple in order to reduce losses by exploring both direct and indirect means to sell their produce. This means that in order to avoid losses, finding a market for pineapples is important. There was a substantial link between the level of education (P=0.049), farm size (P=0.000), farm experience (P=0.021), yield (P=0.000), and post-harvest losses, as per chi-square analysis. Furthermore, according to the findings of the factor analysis, harvesting, grading, sorting, storage, packaging, transportation, and marketing are all aspects that affect post-harvest losses of pineapple at the farm level in the study area. Implementing proper storage and packaging facilities can reduce pineapple farmers' losses and make it easier for them to market their products year-round. Moreover, sorting and grading pineapple increases its price, enabling more effective marketing. Conclusion: It has been shown that the transportation system has a substantial impact on pineapple distribution in the study area. Thus, it is logical to say that the transportation infrastructure should be upgraded in order to reduce pineapple post-harvest losses.

Aims: The research was aimed to assess the economic involvement of female workers in pineapple production and their perception of household income and decision-making perspective in some selected areas of Moulvibazar district, Bangladesh. Study Design: This article is about determining the female workers contribution to household income and is placed on empirical analysis. It estimated the income and decision-making power of female pineapple workers at the household level. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in the Sreemangal Upazila of Moulvibazar district of Bangladesh including three villages i.e. Mohajirabad, Doulochora, and Radhanagar as the female participation in pineapple work is comparatively high. The study period was the production period of pineapple from June to September 2020. Methodology: In this study, simple random sampling was used to choose 200 respondents. Face-to-face interviews with pineapple female workers generated primary data, which was obtained using structured questionnaires. The socio-economic profile of the sampled respondent was determined using descriptive methods. To estimate the female workers contribution to family income and their perception of household decision-making, the Income-Expenditure model and 5-point Likert Scale were applied. Results: The outcome of the research appeared that most of the respondents were belonging to middle age group which is considered an active working group and the average age of the sample respondents was approximately 40 years while the average family size was 6.37. The findings of the study showed that 82.50% were married and 56.50% had no formal education and almost 80.50% of sample respondents were only engaged in pineapple production. The sources of annual family income indicating that 35.76% of income came from female members of the households in which 26.64% where came from only the pineapple sector and the average annual contribution of female pineapple workers in household income was Tk. 23,373.00. Conclusion: It has been concluded that in the study area female workers had a significant role in the participation of household income and also the perception of female workers was largely accepted in the case of household expenditure, buying and selling of family wealth, education of children, saving money, and receiving medical treatment.