Unit 1:
Importance of post-harvest processing of fruits and vegetables, extent and possible causes of post
harvest losses.
, Difference between fruits and vegetables
Fruits Vegetable
Fruit plants are perennial (except cape Most vegetable plants are annual
gooseberry)
Mostly asexually propagated. Mostly sexually propagated
Special techniques like training and pruning Cultivation is seasonal and special techniques
are required. like pruning and training are generally not
required except glasshouse production of
tomato.
Plants are generally woody. Generally, plants are non- woody.
Only fruit is edible Different plant parts are edible.
Mostly consumed fresh. Generally they are consumed after cooking.
Importance of fruits and vegetables
❑ General Utility
➢ As a source of food
❑ Nutritive value:
➢ As a source of nutrients, vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, alkaloids, oleoresins,
fibres, etc.
➢ Medicinal purposes
❑ Economic value:
➢ As a substitute for family income being the component of home garden/ kitchen
garden.
➢ As they give higher returns per unit area in terms of energy, money, job, etc.
➢ As a foreign exchange earner, has higher share compare to agriculture crops.
❑ Aesthetic value: Religious significance
SCOPE OF HORTICULTURE:
✓ Employment generation:
Fruit crops requires 860 man days/annum as against 143 man days/annum for cereal
crops where as the crops like grapes, banana and pineapple needs 1000- 2500 man days per
annum.
✓ Incentive for the farmers:
Horticultural crops provide more returns in terms of productivity, export value and value
addition as compared to agricultural crops.
✓ Necessity:
Importance of post-harvest processing of fruits and vegetables, extent and possible causes of post
harvest losses.
, Difference between fruits and vegetables
Fruits Vegetable
Fruit plants are perennial (except cape Most vegetable plants are annual
gooseberry)
Mostly asexually propagated. Mostly sexually propagated
Special techniques like training and pruning Cultivation is seasonal and special techniques
are required. like pruning and training are generally not
required except glasshouse production of
tomato.
Plants are generally woody. Generally, plants are non- woody.
Only fruit is edible Different plant parts are edible.
Mostly consumed fresh. Generally they are consumed after cooking.
Importance of fruits and vegetables
❑ General Utility
➢ As a source of food
❑ Nutritive value:
➢ As a source of nutrients, vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, alkaloids, oleoresins,
fibres, etc.
➢ Medicinal purposes
❑ Economic value:
➢ As a substitute for family income being the component of home garden/ kitchen
garden.
➢ As they give higher returns per unit area in terms of energy, money, job, etc.
➢ As a foreign exchange earner, has higher share compare to agriculture crops.
❑ Aesthetic value: Religious significance
SCOPE OF HORTICULTURE:
✓ Employment generation:
Fruit crops requires 860 man days/annum as against 143 man days/annum for cereal
crops where as the crops like grapes, banana and pineapple needs 1000- 2500 man days per
annum.
✓ Incentive for the farmers:
Horticultural crops provide more returns in terms of productivity, export value and value
addition as compared to agricultural crops.
✓ Necessity:
