Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
ABSTRACT
Climate change is taking place due to industrial emission of green house
gases (GHG), use of fossil fuels, deforestation, and destruction of vegeta-
tion and extensive construction activities. This is destroying ecosystem,
natural hydrological cycle and affecting ground water recharges. Climate
change is causing rise in temperature, erratic rainfall, increased wind ve-
locity and lower RH. These changes are resulting in scarring, sunburn and
poor color development in apple, apricots, cherries and many other fruits.
Climate change is likely to alter the balance between insect-pests and their
natural enemies and this may increase blemishes on fruit and percentage
of cull fruit. Any increase in temperature, relative humidity, rainfall and
plant canopy growth would increase incidence of Botrytis bunch rot in
grapes. Rains and cloudy weather just before harvest can increase post-
harvest spoilage in all the fruits. Wind and insect scarring affect fruit qual-
ity and fruit become unmarketable. Evaporative cooling of fruit on trees
through sprinklers and Sunburn protectant spray can reduce sunburn in
apple,that is, 0.2% sunburn in treated fruit as compared to 10.8% in con-
trol. Frost damages have been reported in Aonla and Ber due to unusual
low temperatures in northwest India. After chilling temperatures at ma-
turity, postharvest losses in avocado have increased. In mandarins grown
under higher temperatures, color development is poor with less acidity
while rains and hailstorms during maturity increased postharvest losses.
Rains have increased losses in acid lime due to rotting and splitting. With
increasing temperature due to climate change, cold chain has become un-
avoidable and it is must. Higher market standards of importing countries
may also lead to wastage as produce that does not meet size, shape or ap-
pearance criteria has to be disposed of at throw away prices. Airfreighted
fruit has more carbon footprint and may face trade-barrier and sea-freight
protocols need to be developed. Green and ecofriendly postharvest tech-
nologies will help mitigate warming impact. Changing conditions demand
orientation of postharvest strategy to improve infrastructure to reduce
losses and increase availability of produce. Utilization of damaged fruit,
strengthening of processing infrastructure, and cottage scale and home
scale processing need to be strengthened. Several issues about postharvest
research, policy and development need rethinking and action in the face of
climatic change that are going to affect our lives in coming decades.
 
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