Articles
SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT OF GOLDEN BANANA (KLUAI KHAI) FOR EXPORT AT CHANTABURI PROVINCE, THAILAND
Article number
943_33
Pages
249 – 254
Language
English
Abstract
Golden banana, locally known as Kluai Khai, is produced in Chantaburi province, a major growing area east of Thailand, for export mainly to China.
Production and postharvest management practices in supply chain were investigated from October 2009-May 2010 through structured interview of farmers and collectors in five districts of the province; Makham, Pong-Nam-Ron, Tha-Mai, Khao-Kitchagut and Klung.
It was found that Kluai Khai was grown as intercrop in fruit orchards.
Plant density was approximately 937-1,562 plants per hectare, depending on the spacing of the main fruit crop.
Average yield was 1 ton per rai
(1 rai=0.16 ha). Two to three suckers were usually allowed to grow per mother plant.
Fruit bunches were not treated with chemical before bagging, and were harvested when fruit angularity was 3/4 light full.
Harvested fruit bunches were sold to the collectors.
The produce were sorted into two grades, standard grade and under-standard grade or off-grade.
About 60-70% of the total production met the standard grade while the rest were off-grade due to insect pest and disease damage and/or undersized fruits.
Fruits that met the standard were subjected to postharvest operations conducted by the collectors.
Fruit hands were graded into three sizes; AAA, AA and A, before packing into cardboard boxes.
The boxes were then loaded onto a refrigerated truck with temperature of 13-14oC. These operations usually took 8-12 hours.
For off-grade fruits, they were sold locally and to wholesale markets in Bangkok and other provinces.
Price of off-grade fruits was 8-10 times lower than that of standard grade fruits.
Production and postharvest management practices in supply chain were investigated from October 2009-May 2010 through structured interview of farmers and collectors in five districts of the province; Makham, Pong-Nam-Ron, Tha-Mai, Khao-Kitchagut and Klung.
It was found that Kluai Khai was grown as intercrop in fruit orchards.
Plant density was approximately 937-1,562 plants per hectare, depending on the spacing of the main fruit crop.
Average yield was 1 ton per rai
(1 rai=0.16 ha). Two to three suckers were usually allowed to grow per mother plant.
Fruit bunches were not treated with chemical before bagging, and were harvested when fruit angularity was 3/4 light full.
Harvested fruit bunches were sold to the collectors.
The produce were sorted into two grades, standard grade and under-standard grade or off-grade.
About 60-70% of the total production met the standard grade while the rest were off-grade due to insect pest and disease damage and/or undersized fruits.
Fruits that met the standard were subjected to postharvest operations conducted by the collectors.
Fruit hands were graded into three sizes; AAA, AA and A, before packing into cardboard boxes.
The boxes were then loaded onto a refrigerated truck with temperature of 13-14oC. These operations usually took 8-12 hours.
For off-grade fruits, they were sold locally and to wholesale markets in Bangkok and other provinces.
Price of off-grade fruits was 8-10 times lower than that of standard grade fruits.
Authors
T. Sangudom, T. Wasusri, C. Wongs-Aree , V. Srilaong , S. Kanlayanarat
Keywords
banana, Kluai Khai, good agriculture practice, supply chain management (SCM), postharvest handling, quality
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