Postharvest Losses during the Marketing of Large Cardamon and Ginger Spices Crops in East District of Sikkim

Abstract

The present study on post-harvest losses during the marketing of large cardamom and ginger spices crops in the East district of Sikkim state was initiated during the year 2017 to 2019 with the selection of 80 numbers of respondents and it was categorized into three groups viz., marginal. Small and semi-medium size groups based on available cultivable land under the both selected spices crops. To achieve the specific objectives of the present study a multi stage purposive stratified random sampling method was adopted. Further data reveals that on the selected farm size group the majority of the respondents (50.00 per cent) belonged to small land holding with an area of 1.01 ha to 2.00 ha. The post-harvest losses incurred for large cardamom at farmer's level was found maximum on marginal with 24.83 per cent and on the overall farm size group it was found to be 20.04 per cent. The overall post-harvest losses incurred for large cardamom at wholesaler, auction and retailer level was found to be 0.0008 kg. The post-harvest losses incurred at farmer’s level were found maximum on semi-medium farmers with 3.00 per cent. While the post-harvest losses incurred at traders’ level at various stages of marketing of ginger. The highest estimated loss was incurred by wholesalers with 3.00 per cent, followed by retailers with 2.80 per cent and Processors with 2.30 per cent, respectively.