Submit Your Manuscript Online

Identifying and Mitigating the Factors Causing Post-Harvest Losses in Supply Chain of Inland Fish Industry: A Study of Badin Fish Industrial Cluster

	International Journal of Scientific Research and Engineering Development (IJSRED)	Full Text:
	Published Issue : Volume-4 Issue-2
	Year of Publication : 2021
	Unique Identification Number : IJSRED-V4I2P29
	Authors : Sheraz Ali
	: Click Here

Abstract :

Very delicious and nutritious but highly perishable after harvesting, is the fish. It is also said that, the fishes are not the potatoes because their journey from farm-to-fork is very crucial and involves value addition at each and every stage of supply chain in order to retain its physical form and nutrient composition. For that, post-harvest losses are of great concern. The improper post-harvest handling and dissemination of fish, destructs the product physically and its quality and taste deteriorate over time. Therefore, this study attempts to identify the risk factors which are liable for post-harvest losses in supply chain of fish. The study employs qualitative research methodology in which experts of the industry were interviewed. The experts were then provided with a risk assessment matrix to rate the risk factors in terms of occurrence and severity. For interviews, thematic analysis was done which resulted in three final themes such as: Practices employed during harvesting of fish, fish handling during auction and transportation and marketing of fish. Then mode was calculated for summarizing the responses acquired from risk matrix filled by the experts. The risks with higher rating of occurrence and severity were exposure of fishes to high temperature, poor hygienic practices at auction halls, poor condition of transport and inadequacy of chilling, over fishing, improper handling during sorting, auctioning and loading in transport, long storage time and poor market infrastructure. These risks pose serious threat to the product’s health and the overall sector’s sustainability. Finally, some mitigating measures in accordance with global best practices were suggested to mitigate the post-harvest losses and maintain food security which is very challenging for developing countries.