Knowledge for Development

Reducing post-harvest losses in South Asia's mango orchards

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Date: 09/03/2015

Introduction:

The biocompound hexanal – an artificially synthesized version of a natural substance produced by injured plants, could be used to reduce post-harvest losses. Scientists from Canada, India and Sri Lanka have tested the biocompound by spraying small concentrations in mango orchards and found that ripening of the fruits was delayed by three weeks, enabling farmers to earn up to 15% more for their crop. Once the crop is harvested, hexanal-sprayed mangoes also have a much longer shelf life—up to 26 days in cold storage and 17 days at room temperature. In another test, fruits retained their quality for much longer when packed in boxes of hexanal-impregnated banana fibres.    

(IDRC, 17/01/2015)   

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