EDIBLE AROIDS Post-Harvest Operations

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EDIBLE AROIDS Post-Harvest Operations EDIBLE AROIDS Post-harvest Operations - Post-harvest Compendium EDIBLE AROIDS: Post-Harvest Operation Organisation: Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North, New Zealand Massey University Author: Linus U. Opara Edited by AGST/FAO: Danilo Mejía, PhD, FAO (Technical) Last reviewed: 28/08/2003 Contents Preface.................................................................................................................................... 2 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 2 1.1 Economic and Social Impact of Edible Aroids ............................................................ 2 1.2 World Production and Trade ........................................................................................ 3 1.3 Primary products .......................................................................................................... 3 1.4 Secondary and derived product .................................................................................... 4 1.5 Requirements for export and quality assurance ........................................................... 4 1.6 Consumer Preferences ................................................................................................. 5 1.7 Nutritional Facts........................................................................................................... 5 2. Post-Production Operations ............................................................................................... 8 2.1 Pre-harvest Operations ............................................................................................ 8 2.2 Harvesting ................................................................................................................ 8 2.3 Transport .................................................................................................................. 8 2.4 Corm Curing ............................................................................................................ 9 2.5 Cleaning ................................................................................................................. 10 2.6 Packaging............................................................................................................... 10 2.7 Storage ................................................................................................................... 10 2.8 Processing .............................................................................................................. 13 2.9 Aroids for Rural Agro-Industrialisation ................................................................ 17 3. Overall Losses .................................................................................................................. 20 4. Control of Pests, Diseases and Disorders ........................................................................ 21 5. Economic and Social Considerations............................................................................... 22 5.1 Overview of costs and losses ................................................................................. 22 5.2 Major problems...................................................................................................... 22 5.3 Gender aspects ....................................................................................................... 22 6 References ......................................................................................................................... 23 7 Annex – ............................................................................................................................. 26 List of tables ..................................................................................................................... 26 List of figures ................................................................................................................... 27 Preface One of the characteristics of the post-production sector in developing countries is that it is generally subsistence-oriented in regions that are increasingly faced with high population growth rates, food insecurity, malnutrition and poverty. In addition, the incidence of post- harvest losses remains high at all stages from harvesting to consumption. Innovations in post- harvest management and agro-processing are therefore necessary in order to derive maximum benefits from crop production outputs by reducing losses and maintaining product quality and nutritional value. These outcomes will also catalyse the development of rural-based agro- processing industries which provide employment to the rural population in value-adding and processing activities, thereby reducing poverty. Although they have less economic value compared with other major root crops, the edible aroids are important food materials in the diet of many regions in developing countries. Women in particular, play the most significant roles in their cultivation and post-production operations. Improvements in the post-harvest handling and processing of these crops will take account of women‟s specific interests and make work easier, improve productivity and raise income through the delivery and marketing of good quality produce. 1. Introduction Edible aroids (family Araceae) comprise of many underground food crops grown in several tropical and sub-tropical countries. Taro or cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta) and tan(n)ia or new cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) are the most important species. Together they are also called cocoyams in many parts of the world, especially in Africa. For the purpose of this Compendium, the terms „edible aroids‟ or „cocoyams‟ will be used when both Colocasia and Xanthosoma are referred to collectively. Where a distinction is warranted to emphasise differences in post-harvest characteristics, the term „taro‟ will be used for Colocasia , and „tannia‟ for Xanthosoma. Other edible aroids, notably Alocasia Cyrtosperma and Amorphophallus, are cultivated globally to a very limited extent, and they are important food crops in some parts of India, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. However, considering their high economic importance in relation to other types of edible aroids, the information covered in this article will be based on taro (Colocasia esculenta) and tannia (Xanthosoma sagittifolium). 1.1 Economic and Social Impact of Edible Aroids Edible aroids contribute an important part to the carbohydrate content of the diet in many regions in developing countries. They produce edible starchy storage corms or cormels. Although they are less important than other tropical root crops such as yam, cassava and sweet potato, they are still a major staple in some parts of the tropics and sub-tropics. In the South Pacific Island countries in particular, edible aroids represent a very high proportion of the root crops. In the South Pacific and parts of Africa taro is a staple food crop, and in the Caribbean and West Africa in particular, tannia is the main edible aroid. Despite the economic importance of edible aroids as a food material in these regions, there is limited scientific information on their post-harvest characteristics, which perhaps contributes to the very limited application of improved post-harvest technologies to maintain quality and improve marketing potential. EDIBLE AROIDS: Post-harvest Operations Page 2 1.2 World Production and Trade Data on world production and trade of edible aroids is difficult to estimate because of their very limited significance in terms of total production of root and tuber crops. Estimated world production in 1988 was around 5.5 million Mt, and constituting about 3.3% of all root crops (FAO, 1988). Total world production area of taro alone was estimated to be about 993 x 103 ha in 1983, with 80% in Africa. During this period, global production of taro was 5.607 million Mt, with about 61.33% in Africa and 38.67% in Asia. Estimates made about a decade ago indicated that total world production of the major edible aroids (taro and tannia) was about 5.23 million Mt in an area of 983 million ha, with average yield of 5314 kg.ha-1 (FAO, 1991). Production declined by 5.3% from 5.64 million Mt in the 1979-81 period to 5.34 Mt in 1989. Current statistics indicates that increased slowly during the past 5 years from 5.6 million to 8.8 million Mt (Table 1). Although exports increased by over 23% in volume, the value of exports remained fairly uniform over this period. Farmers and exporters interested in future business must ascertain the factors contributing to this trend and the potential impacts on business. Table 1: World production and trade in edible aroids (cocoyams) 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 Production (Mt) 8,834,79 8,823,62 8,697,13 6,621,51 5,977,82 5,586,37 6 5 3 9 8 2 Exports, Quantity (Mt) - 108,845 108,067 90,881 101,670 88,099 Exports, Value - 70,840 88,245 73,710 80,971 70,420 (1000US$) Source: FAOSTAT, 2000 1.3 Primary products Aroids are grown mainly for food. The mature corms and young shoots of edible aroids are mostly used as boiled vegetables, but the corms are also roasted, baked, or fried. Roasted or boiled corms can be eaten alone or with stew. In parts of West Africa, the boiled corms are mashed and used as weaning diet. Mature edible aroids are also processed into flour, which is used to prepare „fufu‟ that is commonly eaten in Nigeria with stew. In southeastern part of Nigeria in particular, tannia is used in small quantity as soup thickener after
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