West african pineapple quality

Abstract

Pineapple quality depends on the interaction of several factors in the production/marketing line. Proper technical management is adaptable to most of the conditions of production, but the recommendations are not always applied and fruit quality is often lesser than it should be. There are numerous reasons why : low prices in Europe resulting in reduced input buying, exporters buying fruits from small unskilled farmers without proper technical assistance, insufficient structures and organization for the postharvest management, etc... One of the main reasons is the lack of knowledge of research findings. Setting up efficient trainings with specific tools in the production/marketing line, for all categories of personnel, is necessary to disseminate this technical knowledge and consequently to sustainably increase fruit quality. These permanent trainings must be done within the production/marketing line itself, by appropriate trainers. In addition, research must continue to increase the technical package, particularly in physiology and post-harvest technology, in order to increase the shelf life of ripe fruits.There is also a great need for improving the quality control system.