Lesson 2: Performing Postharvest Operations

Question 1

Pertains to the handling of crops immediately after harvest

Answer 1

Postharvest operations

Question 2

Handling of Crops in the Field

Answer 2

1. Trimming
2. Cleaning
3. Curing
4. Sorting
5. Grading

Question 3

Done by removing the specific part/s of the plant, like leaves and stems, that are not required by the market

Answer 3

Trimming

Question 4

Done to remove the particles present in the crop products, like dirt and dust, and to take away insects and visible damages of insects prior to being sold

Answer 4

Cleaning

Question 5

Process of handling crops wherein root tubers and bulbs are held at high temperature and humidity to extend their shelf life

Answer 5

Curing

Question 6

Conducted to separate the damaged, bruised, diseased, pest-infected, deformed harvests to increase the value of the crop products transported to the marker

Answer 6

Sorting

Question 7

Involves sorting and organizing produce crops by size, length, color, shape, and firmness for better market pricing

Answer 7

Grading

Question 8

Handling of Crops Off the Field

Answer 8

1. Packing
2. Pre-cooling
3. Transporting

Question 9

Being carried out primarily to safeguard the produce against rough handling when it is transported from one place to another

Answer 9

Packing

Question 10

One of the ways to increase the shelf life of harvested crops

Answer 10

Pre-cooling

Question 11

It affects the quality of crops when they reach the market. Bad roads and poor handling during loading and unloading can damage the crops

Answer 11

Transporting

Question 12

Controlling Insects in Harvested Grain Crops

Answer 12

1. Crop rotation
2. Early harvesting
3. Pest-resistant varieties
4. Exposure to high temperature

Question 12

_________ are typically the most serious storage pests in grain crops

Answer 12

Insects

Question 13

When grains are infested by insects, their quality __________ and the market price is ____________

Answer 13

Deteriorates, affected

Question 14

Done by planting diverse types of crops in the field each year to lessen the problems of grain stores being infested by insects

Answer 14

Crop rotation

Question 15

Done when crops are already matured

Answer 15

Early harvesting

Question 16

Can be planted to avoid risks of insect pests

Answer 16

Pest-resistant varieties

Question 17

Can destroy the insects from grains. This process is called solarization

Answer 17

Exposure to high temperature

Question 18

Factors Contributing to Postharvest Loss

Answer 18

1. Internal Factors
2. External Factors

Question 19

Internal Factors

Answer 19

1. Harvesting
2. Pre-cooling
3. Transportation
4. Storage
5. Grading
6. Disposing

Question 20

The time of harvesting a specific crop is determined by __________

Answer 20

the degree of crop maturity and weather conditions

Question 21

The prevalent causes of loss in harvesting include

Answer 21

1. Maturity index is not established
2. Poor weather condition
3. Using substandard harvesting machinery
4. Sick farmers

Question 22

The lack of available ___________ ____________ due to their high costs causes ___________

Answer 22

Pre-cooling facilities, food losses

Question 23

Poor ____________ like roads and bridges, lack of appropriate transport systems, and lack of refrigerated transport vehicles are the main causes of losses in this stage

Answer 23

Infrastructure

Question 24

For effective and long-term storage of crops, there should be __________ ____________ such as granaries, warehouses, hermetic bins, and silos

Answer 24

adequate facilities

Question 25

Postharvest losses under grading

Answer 25

1. Lack of national standards and poor enforcement of standards
2. Lack of skills and awareness
3. Lack of financial resources

Question 26

To avoid postharvest losses under this stage (grading), a strict, regular, _______________ should take place

Answer 26

supervision

Question 27

External Factors

Answer 27

a.) Environmental factors:
1. Temperature
2. Humidity
3. Altitude
4. Time
b.) Socioeconomic factors

Question 28

The higher the temperature the shorter the storage life of agricultural crop products

Answer 28

Temperature

Question 29

Dry foods will absorb moisture from the air whereas moist foods will give up moisture to the air

Answer 29

Humidity

Question 30

The temperature level of storing the food is dependent upon the elevation from where it is held

Answer 30

Altitude

Question 31

The deterioration in the quality of crops depends on the period of time it is stored. The longer the food is stored, the grater is the deterioration of its quality

Answer 31

Time

Question 32

The increasing demand for crop products at the urban centers had strengthened the transport of products from rural areas, increasing the need for efficient and extended food supply chain

Answer 32

Socioeconomic factors

Question 33

Impact of Postharvest Losses

Answer 33

1. Nutrition
2. Economy

Question 34

When the quality of fruits and vegetables is compromised the process of harvesting the nutritional statues of the populace is also compromised

Answer 34

Nutrition

Question 35

When crops are mishandled and careless harvested, it causes physical damages to the crops like bruises and scars

Answer 35

Economy

Question 36

Postharvest losses intensify wastage in crop products, which can lead to a __________ in monetary benefits

Answer 36

decline