EFFECTS OF USING SELECTED POST-HARVEST PRACTICES TO STRENGTHEN VEGETABLE EXPORT MARKET

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the extent of effects of using selected postharvest

practices as perceived by the farmers and explore the contribution of the selected characteristics of the farmers to their perceived effects of using selected postharvest

practices to strengthen vegetable export market. The study was conducted in three upazilas namely Belabo, Raipura and Shibpur under Narsingdi district in Bangladesh. A total of 717 farmers of these three upazilas are actively producing and exporting Bitter Gourd, Brinjal and Teasel Gourd with the help of Bangladesh Fruits, Vegetables and Allied Products Exporter’s Association (BFVAPEA) which constituted the population of the study. By using sample size formula, 250 farmers founded the sample of the study. Proportionate random sampling technique was used for selecting sample farmers from farmers’ group formed by BFVAPEA in different villages of different unions of these three selected upazilas. Finally 91, 75 and 84 farmers were included for Bitter Gourd, Brinjal and Teasel Gourd respectively as the sample. Data were collected from a sample of 250 farmers during August 01, 2019 to November 30, 2019 by using an interview schedule. Nineteen (19) selected characteristics of the farmers were considered as the independent variables. Effects of using selected post-harvest practices to strengthen vegetable export market was the dependent variable. Majority (83.60%) of the farmers perceived that the use of selected post-harvest practices was medium to high effective to strengthen vegetable export market. Stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated that the whole model of 19 variables explained 35.90 percent of the total variation in effects of using selected post-harvest practices to strengthen vegetable export market as perceived by the farmers. But since the standardized regression co-efficient of 6 variables formed the equation and were significant, it might be assumed that whatever contribution was there, it was due to these 6 variables. Results of stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that use of selected vegetables post-harvest practices, knowledge on selected vegetable post-harvest practices, exportable vegetables production, experience in exportable vegetables production and extension contact had significant positive contribution whereas problems faced in vegetable value chain had negative contribution to their perceived effects of using selected post-harvest practices to strengthen vegetable export market. Path analysis indicated that knowledge on selected vegetable post-harvest practices had the highest total indirect effect followed by extension contact, use of selected vegetables post-harvest practices, experience in exportable vegetables production and exportable vegetables production on their perceived effects of using selected post-harvest practices to strengthen vegetable export market. Problems faced by the farmers had negative total indirect effect on their perceived effects of using selected post-harvest practices to strengthen vegetable export market. Finally, it was found that use of selected post-harvest practices was effective to strengthen vegetable export market.