Post Harvest Management of Horticultural Crops

Sea transportation

Major portion of the perishables in international trade is transported by sea. The various method of sea transport include: ambient sea transportation, refrigerated break bulk, refrigerated containers, modified atmosphere containers and hypobaric containers.

A critical factor in sea transportation is to prevent the collapse or dislodging of stacks. The best result is obtained from a uniform pattern of arrangement. Most fruits and vegetables are now packed in containers of fiberboard. However, fruits packed in wooden boxes generally have a fewer problems than fruits packed in fiberboard cases. Sea transportation is carried out in unrefrigerated and refrigerated holds.

Unrefrigerated sea transport - The commodities which have a relatively long storage life at ambient temperatures such as garlic, onion, potato, zinger, turmeric and others are transported in this method.
Refrigerated sea transport - In refrigerated ships, conditions of temperature and relative humidity are rarely held for periods over 3 weeks.
Refrigerated containers - There exist three basic types of containers namely insulated containers, insulated-ventilated containers and temperature-controlled containers (perishable goods).
Certain containers are also approved for fumigation of a cargo or modified to allow use of a controlled atmosphere system. The prepared atmosphere is placed in refrigerated container by displacing air with a specified mixture of N2, O2, CO2 and some trace gases.
Shipping of mixed loads - In general, it is preferable to handle each commodity as a separate load. However, frequently this is not practical. When mixed load shipments are made up only commodities which have compatible requirement viz. temperature, modified atmosphere, relative humidity, protection from odours and ethylene should be placed in same hold.

Water ways
This method is used among growers whose fields are situated near on bank of river or lakes. In India, this transportation system is used only in Kashmir, Kerala, parts of Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. It is yet to be developed for the quick and easy disposal of perishable vegetables from the fields which are situated far away from big markets but near or on the banks or river or lakes.