Farmer’s Mini Cold Storage Technology for Reducing Postharvest Losses and Enhancing Storage Capacity of Mango Under Bangladesh Perspectives

Abstract

Mango is a highly perishable fruit. It’s rapid ripening, softening and microbial deterioration cause substantial postharvest losses in Bangladesh. The present study evaluated farmer’s mini cold storage technology combined with simple packaging treatments for reducing postharvest losses and extending the storage life of ‘Banana Mango’ under Bangladesh conditions. Mango fruits were subjected to different washing and packaging treatments and evaluated at 3 day intervals up to 24 days after storage (DAS). Treatments included ambient storage, cold storage under open conditions, brown paper covering, individual brown paper covering with or without mango stalk, jute bag covering and polythene sheet covering using washed and unwashed fruits. Fruits stored at room temperature deteriorated rapidly and marketability declining within 9 DAS. Mini cold storage markedly delayed deterioration period.  The treatments W1T4 (washed mangoes individually covered with brown paper while retaining the mango stalk) performed best. It maintained excellent colour and firmness up to 15 DAS and recorded 92.67%, 83.67%, and 42.33% marketable fruits at 18, 21, and 24 DAS, respectively. Overall, CoolBot driven mini cold storage combined with individual brown paper covering effectively delayed ripening, reduced decay and weight loss and extended mango storage period for reducing postharvest losses in Bangladesh.