Singh, P.K.Mondal, Biswaswar2022-02-212022-02-212020Post-Harvesthttps://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810182663Losses of horticultural produce are a major problem in the post-harvest chain. They can be caused by a wide variety of factors, ranging from growing conditions to handling at retail level. During the process of distribution and marketing, substantial losses are incurred which range from a slight loss of quality to total spoilage. Postharvest losses may occur at any point in the marketing process, from the initial harvest through assembly and distribution to the final consumer. The causes of losses are many: physical damage during handling and transport, physiological decay, water loss, or sometimes simply because there is a surplus in the marketplace and no buyer can be found. Potato is important crop in Arambag block of Hooghly district in respect of area and production. As such the study entitled “Post-Harvest Losses in Potato in Hooghly District”. Arambag is purposely selected in Hooghly District with following objectives. The present study cover a sample of 50 farmers out of which 37 are marginal, 11 are small and 2 are large sized farmers respectively with area blow 1 hectare, 1-2 hectare, and more than 2 hectare respectively. These farmers have been collected randomly from sample villages with maximum percentage under potato cultivation. Where 88% of the farmers sell their produced and remaining 12 % use it for self-consumption and other uses. Out 50 farmer survey, 5 of them sell their produced immediately and 41 of them sell afterward and 4 of them sell when they get high price which might be immediately or may be afterward. The average loss at transportation is 3.06% followed by average loss at harvesting which is 2.46% and average loss at storage is about 2.15 % of total produced stored which is due to improper management of the cold storage which lead to attack by pest and diseases. The average loss in process of harvesting, transportation and storage is about 7.65%. About 92% of the farmers use the cold storage for storing their produced and rest 8% store it in their home and in average of 1.5 kms there is a cold storage available and 62% of the farmers are satisfied with the cold storage facility where rest 38% thinks storage facility can be upgraded for minimizing the loss. 66% farmers have a formal training in potato cultivation from any government organization or KVK and very few farmers are benefited from KCC loan for potato cultivation which give 4% interest on principal amount. The study reveals that the Post-harvest losses in potato can be controlled by the farmers and by this the farmers can increase their profit, whether they are small, medium or large farmers. There are some problems regarding the post-harvest losses in potato that some farmers lack in proper technical knowledge and they do not know that in which step what measures should be taken regarding to the transportation , diseases and pest control.EnglishThesis