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Effects of Harvesting Methods on the Quality Characteristics of Citrus Fruits in the Central Region of Ghana

Received: 27 August 2020     Accepted: 15 September 2020     Published: 30 September 2020
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Abstract

Fresh citrus fruits play a significant role in human nutrition but its quality is affected by a lot of factors between the periods of harvest and consumption. Poor harvesting directly affects market quality and nutritive value of the fruits. For this reason, this study aimed at investigating the effects of harvesting methods on the citrus fruit quality characteristics in the Abura-Asebu Kwamankese and Mfantseman Districts in the Central Region of Ghana. The study was a descriptive survey using questionnaire for data collection. A sample size of 140 were involved in this study which consisted of 50 citrus famers, 50 wholesalers of citrus and 40 consumers of citrus. The respondents were randomly selected from the two Districts. The findings from the study revealed that most farmers use hooks in harvesting the fruits, followed by hand picking and hand shaking of the branches. It was revealed that the harvesting methods have significant effects on the quality of the fruit. It also found out that fruit juice and rind are affected when poor harvesting methods are used. However, the findings from this study could not substantiate whether poor harvesting methods affect the sugar level of the fruits since the respondents were uncertain about it. From the findings, it was therefore recommended that farmers should start embracing mechanical harvesting and special treatments should be applied before, during or after harvesting the fruits.

Published in Science Development (Volume 1, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.scidev.20200101.11
Page(s) 1-7
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Science Publishing Group

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Keywords

Citrus, Quality, Harvesting Methods, Hand-Picking, Hook Method and Shaking

References
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[2] Youseif, S. H., El-Halwagi A., Sayed H. A. & El-Itriby H. A. (2014). Chemical analyses, antibacterial activity and genetic diversity assessment of some Egyptian Citrus spp. Cultivars. African Journal of Biotechnology. 13: 2626-2636.
[3] Liu, Y. Q., Heying, E. and Tanumihardjo, A. (2012). History, Global Distribution, and Nutritional Importance of Citrus Fruits. Comprehensive review in Food Science and Food Saefty. (11) 530-545.
[4] Orlando, S. P. (2004). Advances in citriculture origin botanical classification and geographical distribution of citrus. Pp-1-7. http://www.vedamsbooks.com/. Accessed on 2019 July.
[5] Keerthi, B. P., & Rosa, R. (2008). Good practice for assuring the post-harvest quality of exotic tree fruit crops produced in Jamaica. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Rome, 2008.
[6] Kader, A. A., ed. (2002). Post-harvest technology of horticultural crops. Oakland: University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources Publication 3311, 535 pp.
[7] Riccarda, M., Roberta, R., Thilmany-McFadden, D. (2011). Consumer Preferences for Fruit and Vegetables with Credence-Based Attributes: A Review. International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, Volume 14, Issue 2, 2011.
[8] ADRA (1996) Adventist Development and Relief Agency, Technical proposal for Title II Food Security Program (PL 480 Title II). Submitted to USAID.
[9] Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO, 2008). Basic Harvest and Post-Harvest Handling Considerations for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables. Postharvest Training CD-ROM on Food Processing/FAO manual food handling and preservation/CHAPTER 2.
[10] Kadzere, I., Hove L., Gatsi T., Masarirambi M. T., Tapfumaneyi, L., Maforimbo E., Magumise I. (2004). Current status of post-harvest handling and traditional processing of indigenous fruits in Zimbabwe. In: Rao MR, Kwesiga FK (eds) Proceeding of the Regional Agroforestry Conference on Agroforestry Impacts on Livelihoods in Southern Africa: Putting research into practice: World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), Nairobi, Kenya, pp 353-363.
[11] Lee, S. K. and Kader, A. A. (2000). Preharvest and postharvest factors influencing vitamin C content of horticultural crops. Journal of Postharvest Biology and Technology20, 207-220.
[12] Mohammed, M. (2014). Manual on postharvest management strategies to reduce losses of perishable crops. Piarco, Trinidad, retrieved from uwi/cta/namdevco conference facility, retrieved on 24-2 2019.
[13] Abu-Goukh, A. A. and Mohamed, H. I. (2004). Effect of harvesting method on quality and shelf-life of mango fruits. Journal of Tropical Science. 44, 73-76.
[14] Adel, A. and Rosa. R. S. (2004). The role of post-harvest management in assuring the quality and safety of horticultural produce. FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin 152, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome.
[15] Thompson, J. F., F. G. Mitchell, and R. F. Kasmire. (2002). Cooling horticultural commodities. In A. A. Kader, ed., Postharvest Technology of Horticultural Crops, pp. 97-112. DANR Pub. no. 3311, University of California, Davis, CA.
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    Ogoe Patrick Bentil, Appiah Charles, Ofori Edmund. (2020). Effects of Harvesting Methods on the Quality Characteristics of Citrus Fruits in the Central Region of Ghana. Science Development, 1(1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.scidev.20200101.11

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    ACS Style

    Ogoe Patrick Bentil; Appiah Charles; Ofori Edmund. Effects of Harvesting Methods on the Quality Characteristics of Citrus Fruits in the Central Region of Ghana. Sci. Dev. 2020, 1(1), 1-7. doi: 10.11648/j.scidev.20200101.11

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    AMA Style

    Ogoe Patrick Bentil, Appiah Charles, Ofori Edmund. Effects of Harvesting Methods on the Quality Characteristics of Citrus Fruits in the Central Region of Ghana. Sci Dev. 2020;1(1):1-7. doi: 10.11648/j.scidev.20200101.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.scidev.20200101.11,
      author = {Ogoe Patrick Bentil and Appiah Charles and Ofori Edmund},
      title = {Effects of Harvesting Methods on the Quality Characteristics of Citrus Fruits in the Central Region of Ghana},
      journal = {Science Development},
      volume = {1},
      number = {1},
      pages = {1-7},
      doi = {10.11648/j.scidev.20200101.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.scidev.20200101.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.scidev.20200101.11},
      abstract = {Fresh citrus fruits play a significant role in human nutrition but its quality is affected by a lot of factors between the periods of harvest and consumption. Poor harvesting directly affects market quality and nutritive value of the fruits. For this reason, this study aimed at investigating the effects of harvesting methods on the citrus fruit quality characteristics in the Abura-Asebu Kwamankese and Mfantseman Districts in the Central Region of Ghana. The study was a descriptive survey using questionnaire for data collection. A sample size of 140 were involved in this study which consisted of 50 citrus famers, 50 wholesalers of citrus and 40 consumers of citrus. The respondents were randomly selected from the two Districts. The findings from the study revealed that most farmers use hooks in harvesting the fruits, followed by hand picking and hand shaking of the branches. It was revealed that the harvesting methods have significant effects on the quality of the fruit. It also found out that fruit juice and rind are affected when poor harvesting methods are used. However, the findings from this study could not substantiate whether poor harvesting methods affect the sugar level of the fruits since the respondents were uncertain about it. From the findings, it was therefore recommended that farmers should start embracing mechanical harvesting and special treatments should be applied before, during or after harvesting the fruits.},
     year = {2020}
    }
    

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    T1  - Effects of Harvesting Methods on the Quality Characteristics of Citrus Fruits in the Central Region of Ghana
    AU  - Ogoe Patrick Bentil
    AU  - Appiah Charles
    AU  - Ofori Edmund
    Y1  - 2020/09/30
    PY  - 2020
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.scidev.20200101.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.scidev.20200101.11
    T2  - Science Development
    JF  - Science Development
    JO  - Science Development
    SP  - 1
    EP  - 7
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2994-7154
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.scidev.20200101.11
    AB  - Fresh citrus fruits play a significant role in human nutrition but its quality is affected by a lot of factors between the periods of harvest and consumption. Poor harvesting directly affects market quality and nutritive value of the fruits. For this reason, this study aimed at investigating the effects of harvesting methods on the citrus fruit quality characteristics in the Abura-Asebu Kwamankese and Mfantseman Districts in the Central Region of Ghana. The study was a descriptive survey using questionnaire for data collection. A sample size of 140 were involved in this study which consisted of 50 citrus famers, 50 wholesalers of citrus and 40 consumers of citrus. The respondents were randomly selected from the two Districts. The findings from the study revealed that most farmers use hooks in harvesting the fruits, followed by hand picking and hand shaking of the branches. It was revealed that the harvesting methods have significant effects on the quality of the fruit. It also found out that fruit juice and rind are affected when poor harvesting methods are used. However, the findings from this study could not substantiate whether poor harvesting methods affect the sugar level of the fruits since the respondents were uncertain about it. From the findings, it was therefore recommended that farmers should start embracing mechanical harvesting and special treatments should be applied before, during or after harvesting the fruits.
    VL  - 1
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Sciences, College of Education, Komenda, Ghana

  • Department of Sciences, College of Education, Assin Foso, Ghana

  • Department of Sciences, Mfantsiman Girls Senior High School, Saltpond, Ghana

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