Present Status of Post Harvest Practices for Horticultural Crops in Himachal Pradesh

Horticulture plays an important role in the economy of the state of Himachal Pradesh, with a total production of fruits and vegetables of about 447.68 and 640 thousand-tonnes from the corresponding cultivated areas of about 207.2 and 41.8 thousand-hectares. Although area and production of horticultural crops are increasing at a fast rate, the post-harvest operations arc, however, without adopting scientific measures. This results in high post harvest losses. It is estimated that 25–30% of horticulture produce are lost due to non-availability of appropriate post harvest technology and proper facilities of handling, transport and storage. About 2% of horticulture produce is being processed for other value added products. This paper deals with the prevalent post harvest practices in Himachal Pradesh, causes of post harvest losses and recommendation to control them.