A study on post harvest handling of mango in Andhra Pradesh Babul K. Hari1, Associate Professor, Rao S.V.R.K.2, Associate Professor 1 Department of Horticulture, S. V. Agriculture, College, Tirupati - 517 502, A.P. 2 Department of Plant Pathology, S. V. Agricultural College, Tirupati - 517 502, A.P. Abstract A survey was conducted to study the existing post harvest handling systems and to estimate post harvest losses at farmers pooling centre (Mandies), whole sale market and retail market levels in internal and export markets of mango in Andhra Pradesh. Early and mid season mango fruits of choice varieties viz. Banganapalli, Alphanso, Suvarnarekha are harvested by sickle with bamboo stick whereas late season crop of Totapuri variety of mango fruit is harvested by beating the fruits with sticks. Post harvest losses of mango fruits varied from 5 to 8.5 percent at farmer's level in different regions of Andhra Pradesh, where as on an average about 5%, 20% and 15% of fruits are wasted at handling, wholesale market, and retail market levels, respectively. Total post harvest losses of mango fruits varied from 40% in coastal region, 46.5% in Telangana region and 53.5% in Rayalaseema region with an average post harvest losses of 47.5% in Andhra Pradesh. However, with an improved handling system adopted by exporters of mango, the post harvest loses varied from 10 to 15% only. Among all the varieties, Totapuri variety of mango performed better in distant transportation. Top |