VALUE CHAIN ANALYSIS AND POST HARVEST DISEASES OF DIFFERENT CITRUS FRUITS

Abstract

A survey study was conducted to analyze citrus value chain and identify different citrus diseases at farm level and trader level. The survey was conducted during the periods of August 2020 to February 2021 in the Sylhet and Dhaka district of Bangladesh. Three upazillas namely Jaintapur, Khadimnagar and Sylhet Sadar were selected for collection of information on farm practices and disease faced by those area’s growers. Sylhet Kodomtoli wholesale market, Mohammadpur Krishi market, Karwan bazar and Retailer shops (Taltola, Mirpur 1, farmgate) at Dhaka city were studied for value chain at marketing. The survey revealed that citrus growing areas were increased. Most of the farmers were medium sized (46.66%) and farmers have 5-15 years’ experience in citrus cultivation. The common varieties grown in that selected areas were Elachi lemon, Zara lemon, BARI malta and Orange (BARI Komla). For transportation harvested citrus fruits, Beparies mostly used mini trucks. Traders(retailer) used van (60%) and local carts (15%) for transporting their citrus in the marketing channel. Disease incidence varied from variety to variety and upazilla to upazilla. Highest canker incidence (52%) was found in khadimnagar in Elachi lemon and highest Citrus scab incidence (31%) was found at Jaintapur in BARI malta. At post-harvest stage, highest citrus blue mold incidence (12.3%) was found in retailer shops at Dhaka city and citrus green mold incidence (16.6%) was also found in retailer shops at Dhaka city. Citrus blue mold incidence (3%) was found lowest in kodomtoli wholesale market, Sylhet district and citrus green mold disease incidence (4.1%) was found lowest at karwan bazar market, Dhaka. In our study revealed that highest marketing margin gained by retailer level for BARI malta (1254.21tk/quintal)