Harvesting, Post-Harvest Handling, and Marketing of Commercial Crops
NEXT LESSON
Harvesting
Harvesting and post-harvest practices are the most crucial operations in commercial crop production. High quality products command a good market price which means bigger profit for the farmer for the farmer. In harvesting, the raiser should consider some factors such as the current market price, distance from the farm site to the market, and the length of time crops will be stored prior to marketing.
Post-harvest Handling
The farmer should not only know how to market his crops properly. He should also know how to handle his harvest in order to get the most out of them. Generally, most commercial crops undergo the following post-harvest handling before they are sold;
Harvesting
Harvesting and post-harvest practices are the most crucial operations in commercial crop production. High quality products command a good market price which means bigger profit for the farmer for the farmer. In harvesting, the raiser should consider some factors such as the current market price, distance from the farm site to the market, and the length of time crops will be stored prior to marketing.
Post-harvest Handling
The farmer should not only know how to market his crops properly. He should also know how to handle his harvest in order to get the most out of them. Generally, most commercial crops undergo the following post-harvest handling before they are sold;
- Cleaning and washing
- Drying
- Sun drying of corn is done by placing the harvested crops directly under the heat of the sun. It can be done with the corn either shelled or unshelled.
- Air dying of peanuts is simply done by spreading the unshelled peanuts in a floor made out of bamboo slats to allow air to circulate.
- Drying by heating is usually done when storing corn to be used as planting materials. This is done by hanging the corn cobs above the cooking area so that these are dried by excess heat from the stove.
4. Storing. This is the simplest and most common method of preservation.
Vegetables like cabbage, okra, tomato, and watermelon should be stored in a cool place while products like banana, tobacco, gabi, and mungo can be kept in storage with temperature, ventilation, and air moisture similar to that of the condition outside the storage area.
Marketing
Marketing plays a vital role in the profitability of farm products. Profit can be increased through an appropriate marketing scheme. A direct method of selling products from the producer to the consumer is the most effective marketing scheme. Selling products through middleman will decrease the farmer's income.
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