Survey on Quality of Foodgrains Procured from Farmers: A Case Study in Punjab

A study on the efficiency of procurement of food grains from farmers on quality norms was carried out in the state of Punjab. The survey involves collection of foodgrains viz., wheat and paddy from farmers in mandies/procurement centres from 2008 to 2016. The samples of paddy were analysed for their quality parameters in respect of content of various refractions such as, foreign matter, damaged grains, discoloured, shrunken, shrivelled, weevilled, immature grains and moisture. In paddy and wheat, the analysis results revealed the extent of its quality in which the refractions content of paddy and wheat were observed to lie within the quality specifications formulated by the Government of India (GOI)for their procurement during Kharif and Rabi marketing season to supply to the consumers through Public Distribution System (PDS) and other welfare schemes.

Supply Chains of Commodity Products in India

Rice is one of the major commodities produced and consumed in India. India is also home to one of the finest varieties of rice sold under the name of Basmati. The State of Chhattisgarh is considered the Rice Bowl of India as it is one of the largest contributors to paddy production in India. Around 3 million families subsist on farming in Chhattisgarh, out of which, 1.522 million families are small farmers (owning less than 2 hectares of land). The Government of Chhattisgarh procures paddy in Chhattisgarh on behalf of Government of India. This scheme benefits about 1 million farmer families by procuring about 3 million metric tons of paddy in the Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) of a year, spending about 600 Million US Dollars. The procurement takes place through about 1333 Primary Agricultural Societies in the whole state covering geographical area of 135000 sq. km. The paddy procured is converted into rice by millers after entering into an agreement. Rice is then handed over to Chhattisgarh State Civil Supplies Corporation to use it in another important scheme for providing food security to the poor. The supply chain of rice production is very simple. It is harvested in the form of paddy from the field and sold to the millers who then process the rice. The processed rice is then sold to the market. Although simple, there are a number of inefficiencies present in its supply chain. This case familiarizes the readers of the distribution system of rice, various government policies in its distribution system, and the issues that need to be addressed in a typical distribution system of rice. The case also urges the readers to mull over how these inefficiencies can be overcome with the latest supply chain management techniques so as to make its distribution efficient and cost effective.

Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Apples in European Markets

Comparisons were made of the major physical and chemical characteristics of seven cultivars of apples (Malus domestica Borkh.) produced and imported into Western Europe from 13 origins. During the 1990-91 marketing season, `Delicious', `Golden Delicious', `Granny Smith', `Elstar', `Jonagold', `Gala', and `Fuji' apples were included in the study. Physical characteristics evaluated were length-to-diameter ratio, shape, external defects, internal defects, water core, bruises, firmness, blush surface, and color. Chemical characteristics evaluated were starch, juice content, soluble solids, acids, and ascorbic acid. Significant differences in some of these quality characteristics were found between the different origins. Apples produced in the United States, particularly `Delicious', had some superior quality characteristics compared to fruit from other origins.

HIGH TUNNELS EXTEND THE SEASON FOR TOMATOES

High tunnels (unheated walk-in structures) are widely utilized in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East for early vegetable production. There are relatively few high tunnels used for vegetable production in the U.S. In a 2-year study, determinate tomatoes matured up to 32 days earlier than the same cultivars under standard field culture. Earliness was gained through 16 days earlier planting and 16 days earlier maturity than in the field. In tunnels, when ground grown, yield was 7.4 kg m-1; and when grown with a basketweave trellis, yield was 6.8 kg m-1. Even though these yields (for a 30-day period) were less than the yields from the field, the earlier harvest provides an extra marketing opportunity at premium prices. Under current production and marketing conditions in New Hampshire, at a conservative average selling price of $1.60/lb, the net return is $0.71/1b. By using relatively low cost tunnels, growers are able to economically extend their growing and marketing season without a high capital outlay.

WALLA WALLA SWEET ONION STORAGE AND SHELF LIFE

Walla Walla Sweet onions (Allium cepa L.) have a short storage and marketing season. Studies to determine viable shelf life and to extend post-harvest life with controlled atmosphere (CA) storage were conducted. Onions were exposed to various CA gas mixtures in combination with heat curing (35°C) and/or chlorine dioxide (ClO2) fumigation, to control disease. Preliminary results indicated Botrytis was the primary cause of post-harvest losses. A 1% O2, 5% CO2 atmosphere appeared to maintain onion quality better than other gas mixtures tested during 15 weeks of CA storage (0°C). Carbon dioxide series above 5% show promise in reducing the 35% storage loss that occurred with the 5% CO2 treatment. Curing for at least 72 hours followed by a 1-hour ClO2 fumigation resulted in the least bulb decay and after 15 weeks of storage (1% O2, 5% CO2), 75% of the bulbs were in marketable condition. Onions stored 15 weeks in air (0°C, 70% RH) were unmarketable. Shelf life of freshly harvested onions was 18 days, after which the onions rapidly decayed. After CA storage, shelf life was reduced to 10-14 days due to rapid sprouting. To enjoy a 30-day market window, disease control is necessary for freshly harvested onions and sprouting must be controlled in post-storage onions.

Quality Changes and Limited Marketing Season Effects on the Demand for Fresh Blueberries

This study examines the notion that fresh-fruit prices follow a time trend separate from the effect of seasonal supply changes over the marketing season. In particular, quality changes and a limited marketing season are hypothesized to contribute to the seasonal changes in demand. The empirical results support these hypotheses for the Boston fresh-blueberry market.