Growing mangoes and oranges can be rewarding if a farmer adopts the best practices. However, while the tree may yield well, farmers make losses due to poor harvesting and storage methods. But how do you identify a ready to harvest fruit?
Maturity Period: 12 – 16 weeks after fruit set
• Maturity: Some indicators of maturity include:
– Well developed shoulders
– Skin changes from green to yellow
– Colour of flesh: The flesh around the seed turn from white to yellow
– Sugar content increases
• Harvesting: Use secateurs. Do not knock or drop the fruits. Fruits should be harvested with 3 – 4 cm stalk. Drain the latex from the fruits by turning.
• Yields: 10,000 – 15,000kg per acre from the 7th year
Post-Harvest Handling
Containers & Packaging Materials
• For export market, pack in single layer in fibreboard cartons of 4 – 5 kg weight. The fruits per carton range from 6 – 24.The cartons should be well ventilated
Value Addition Techniques: Sorting, Cleaning & Grading
• Sorting: Remove diseased, mis-shaped, damaged and unripe fruitsand foreign matter
• Cleaning: Cleaning with a clean damp cloth
• Grading: According to size, colour, and texture (Class 1 & Class11)
