AN ECONOMETRIC ESTIMATION OF POST-HARVEST LOSSES OF CUT-FLOWERS IN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Abstract

The study was conducted to quantify the post-harvest losses (PHL) of cut-flowers atvarious levels of market intermediaries’ i.e. farm, commission agent, wholesale market and retaillevels. Primary data were collected from district Kasur, Lahore, Sheikhupura, and Faisalabad. Therespondents were selected by employing the stratified random sampling technique. SPSS was used forthe descriptive statistics and multiple regression model analysis for econometric estimation. Theeconometric estimation revealed that variable of education, experience, floriculture area, pickingmethod; picking time and extension services had a significant impact on losses on farm level, whereaseducation and infrastructure showed a significant effect on losses at a commission agent level. Thedeterminants of PHL at the wholesale level were experience, loading method, and cold storage,transportation while education, unsold quantity, retailer type, kind of shop and storage place had asignificant effect on losses at the retailer level. Proper training and scientific knowledge should begiven to traders regarding storage, grading, handling, displaying and processing of flowers. The studysuggests adopting a scientific approach to minimize these losses.