Main postharvest losses of flowers in Bangladesh are at retail level

Poscosecha, postcosecha, postharvest, ornamentales, ornamentals, rosa, gladiolo, tuberose, tagetes, rose, gladiolus, marigoldThe present study was conducted to estimate the post harvest losses of flower and its impact on farmer's net profit, marketing margin and marketing efficiency and also estimate producer's share in consumer's price at different level of marketing such as producer, local trader, wholesaler and retailer. Primary data were randomly collected from 95 respondents from Jessore and Dhaka city. The study covered four kinds of flower such as rose, marigold, gladiolus and tuberose. Post harvest losses was highest at retail level (39.82%) followed by wholesaler (27.52%), producer (18.87%) and local trader (13.78%) per hundred of all flowers. Percentage change in net price received by farmers before and after excluding post harvest losses for rose, marigold, gladiolus and tuberose was 6.22, 38.57, 2.79 and 5.53 per cent respectively. Due to post harvest losses the marketing margin of the local traders, wholesaler and retailers decreased by 6.14, 8.88 and 7.65 per cent respectively. Total marketing margin was reduced due to post harvest loss for rose, marigold, gladiolus and tuberose by 12.16, 62.55, 3.83 and 17 per cent respectively. Tuberose market was more efficient than other flowers market in both with and without post harvest loss. Producer's share in consumer's taka in the present study was comparatively lower. Lack of storage facilities, inadequate and under developed transportation and communication system, absence of scientific and modern harvesting technology, lack of infrastructural facilities and standardized packing method are the main reason which deteriorate the quality of flower and enhance the post harvest losses of flower. Some measures are suggested for reducing post harvest losses of flower. Source:Economic AffairsYear : 2011, Volume : 56, Issue : 2First page : ( 203) Last page : ( 209)Print ISSN : 0424-2513. Online ISSN : 0976-4666.About? the authors:Bagchi Mita(1), Raha S.K. (2)(1)College of Economics and Managemnt, North West A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, PR China-712100(2)Department of Agribusiness and Marketing, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh. sraha67@yahoo.com? The picture is a tuberose, by www.fragrantica.com