Postharvest Losses of Tomato: A Value Chain Context of Bangladesh IJAEE Postharvest Losses of Tomato: A Value Chain Context of Bangladesh Dr. Paresh Kumar Sarma Senior Scientific Officer, BAU Research System, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh E-mail: paresh.baures@bau.edu.bd The study was estimated the postharvest loss along with the value chain in Bangladesh during the year 2016-2017. Multiple sampling technique and semi-structured survey questionnaire was used in the study. Primary data were collected from field level by using survey method and focus group discussions and secondary data were obtained from published and unpublished sources. The results show that the harvest losses at farmers, traders, wholesalers, retailers, processors and consumers level were 9.25%, 1.70%, 1.98%, 3.99%, 5.35% and 2.36% % of the total after harvest losses of tomatoes, respectively. Total losses after harvest were estimated at 22.93%, along with tomato value chain in the study area. The findings show that the main constraints were processing technology of tomatoes (83.3%), insufficient support for extension services (70.00%) and low demand for dried tomatoes (66.67%). Other restrictions on tomatoes after harvest were insufficient market information for tomatoes (57.67%), high agricultural labor costs (52.67%), pest and disease problems (50.00%), the lack of technical knowledge about postharvest (46.67%), and Lack of modern processing facilities (44.67%). and the standardized packaging method is the main reason for deteriorating tomato quality and improving tomato loss after harvest. The results of this study emphasize that the ability of actors to reduce losses after harvest is limited due to lack of technical expertise. They also do not have the support and additional resources needed to improve the post-harvest practices and technologies. Keywords: Tomatoes, Post-harvest practices, Value chain analysis INTRODUCTION Tomato is one of the most important and popular vegetable in the world (Grandilo et al., 1999). Tomato was produced 359935 MT and 413610 MT in Bangladesh during the 2013-14 and 2014-15, while it was about 5428 MT, and 5188 MT come from Jessore district, 70201 MT and 54805 MT come from Dinajpur district, 4490 MT and 6800MT come from Mymensingh district and 3540 MT and 6241 MT come from Kishoregonj district in the year 2013-14 and 2014-15 respectively (BBS 2015). Tomatoes can be eaten in many ways. Fresh fruits are eaten in salads and sandwiches as a sauce while dry processed or pasta, preserves, sauces, soups, juices and beverages (Grandilo et al., 1999; Beckles 2012). Tomato based food items present a wide range of nutrients and many health benefits to the human body. Tomato contains higher amounts of lycopene, a type of carotenoid with antioxidant properties (Arab and Steck, 2000), which is favorable to reduce the incidence of some chronic diseases (Basu Imrhan, 2007), such as cancer and many others cardiovascular disorders (Freemanet et al., 2011). In areas where it is grown and consumed, it forms an essential part of people's diet. Tomato production is about 4.8 million hectares of harvested area worldwide, with an estimated production of 162 million tons. China leads world tomato production by about 50 million tonnes, followed by India with 17.5 million tonnes (Hussen et al., 2013). Tomato production can serve as a source of income for most rural producers in most of the developing countries of the world (Arah et al., 2015). Despite the many benefits that can be derived from the crop, post-harvest losses make its products unprofitable in International Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension Vol. 4(1), pp. 085-092, February, 2018. © www.premierpublishers.org, ISSN: XXXX-XXXX Research Article