Measurement of Postharvest Losses of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) from Harvesting to Storage at Farm Level

Abstract

During a crop’s transition from farm to consumer, much of the crop is lost due to several factors, including improper handling, inefficient processing facilities, and biodegradation due to microorganisms and insects. This study was conducted with two objectives: to measure the extent of postharvest losses of pre-monsoon and post-monsoon sesame in field operations, i.e. in the harvesting, stacking, drying of stalks, threshing and winnowing processes, and also to determine the quantity lost with the use of different types of packaging materials used for storage. The research was conducted in Pwintphyu and Pakokku Townships, Magway Region, Myanmar in July and December 2016. The postharvest losses were measured at harvesting, stacking, stalk drying, threshing and the winnowing stages on the farms. When comparing postharvest losses, losses were higher in pre-monsoon sesame than post-monsoon sesame, except at the harvesting stage. The total losses were found to be more in the pre-monsoon crop (21.34%) compared to the post- monsoon crop (11.88%). In regard to contribution to total losses, the storage loss accounted for the major part (71.42%) of the total postharvest losses in pre-monsoon sesame. For the remaining losses, 22.35% occurred during stalks drying and threshing process, 3.47% when stacking, with 1.45% of loss during harvest and 1.31% at winnowing. For post-monsoon sesame, storage losses comprised 91.08% of total losses, followed by harvest loss (6.48%), stalks drying and threshing (1.68%), winnowing (0.59%) and stacking (0.17%). To assess the storage losses resulting from the use of different packaging materials, two types of packaging materials were tested. The harvested sesame seed was stored in pioneer superbags and woven polypropylene bag for eight months at farmers’ houses. At the end of this period, weight losses for the pre-monsoon sesame occurred in sesame stored in both superbags and woven polypropylene bags. However, losses for the post-monsoon sesame occurred only the woven polypropylene bag.