Sampling Methodology for Estimation of Harvest and Post-harvest Losses of Major Crops and Commodities

Abstract

In developing countries, efficient use of food materials produced and saving them as much as possible is one of the ways of achieving the target of ensuring availability of food to the masses. In order to make strategies for reducing the losses, knowledge of extent of losses and their reasons is essential. Based on the literature reviewed on estimation of harvest and post-harvest losses, it has been observed that most of the studies did not follow standard statistical methods and thus may not reflect the accurate scenario of extent of losses at national level. Therefore, an appropriate sampling methodology for estimation of quantitative harvest and post-harvest losses of major crops and commodities has been developed. Estimates of percentage loss along with percentage standard error of the estimates at agro-climatic zone level and national level have been obtained using this developed methodology. This methodology provides reliable estimates of quantitative harvest and post-harvest losses of 45 crops and commodities in India through an integrated national level survey conducted during 2012-2014. The developed methodology generates reliable estimates of losses in various operations and storages in different channels.