Field survey of postharvest handling of cut flowers produced in the Up country of Sri Lanka for the local market

Abstract

Cut flowers produced for the local market come mainly from the Up-country region of Sri Lanka. Using a questionnaire, a field survey was carried out to find out information on aspects of postharvest handling and postharvest losses in Up-country produced cut flowers supplied to the local market. Forty-seven personnel involved in the cut flower handling chain in and around Nuwara Eliya town, Ragala, Bandarawela and Kandy were interviewed. A variety of postharvest problems related to Up-country cut flower production were identified. Inadequate knowledge on proper pre-and postharvest handling methods among the majority of farmers and sellers contributed largely to considerable postharvest losses in cut flowers. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/cjsbs.v41i1.4538 Ceylon Journal of Science (Bio. Sci.) 41 (1): 67-70, 2012