Less losses, more profit with cold chain

By Sosimo Ma. Pablico

A continuous refrigerated handling of high value crops and other commodities like fish from the production area like the farm to distant markets could very well extend their freshness and quality, resulting in less postharvest losses and more profit.

Known as the cold chain, this post production system helps farmers and fisherfolks meet the demand of the market for a year-round supply of fresh quality vegetables and fish.

Francis Ching, 54, of La Trinidad, Benguet, who is both a vegetable farmer and trader, attests that indeed the cold chain has helped him meet the requirements of his institutional buyers to deliver his products at a prescribed temperature. 

For three years now, Ching has been using the cold chain in transporting his products to his clients in Metro Manila.  Overall, the technology has generated good results for him and he swears he will continue using it until a better technology is developed.

“The cold chain is really helpful. It preserves the freshness of the commodity by maintaining its appropriate temperature,” he said.  “It also retards deterioration, making the products reach the consumers in freshly picked condition. This way, postharvest losses are also reduced.”

Ching has been a vegetable trader since 1980, supplying Benguet vegetables to various clients in Metro Manila.  In fact, he left his job in Manila to become a vegetable trader, following the practices of the other traders.

He allowed his helpers to load vegetables in his freight truck without pre-cooling and proper packing.  Years later, he noted that this practice resulted in bruising and deterioration of the vegetables.  Thus, the vegetables are already in poor condition upon reaching the market. 

Post production experts point out that without the cold chain, high value crops deteriorate rapidly after harvest because of short shelf life and poor postharvest handling.

Ching came upon the cold chain idea after he was required by his institutional buyers to deliver his products at a prescribed temperature. To meet their requirement, he started asking people on who could possibly assist him on his problem.

To cut the story short, someone told him about the national cold chain program that the Department of Agriculture, through the Bureau of Postharvest Research and Extension (BPRE), is promoting.  Through the program, BPRE provides reefer trucks as loans for vegetable farmers and entrepreneurs in Benguet to assist them in transporting their produce.  Ching was able to acquire one unit, which he is now using in his shipments. 

Just like any new technology, new users must be trained to use it properly. “BPRE taught us how to pre-cool and package our products   before these are shipped to distant destinations. Their assistance is really helping us in our operations,” he said.

Ching and his wife operate the John Kenny Farm, which is now making its name in the vegetable industry, at the upper terrains of Buguias.  Around 12 hectares of open field are being planted with potato and cabbage, while one hectare of romaine lettuce is being propagated in greenhouses. 

Following the crop rotation method, the volume of production depends on market demands and weather conditions.

The couple acquired the farm after several years in the vegetable trading business so that they would now grow their own vegetables.  With the cold chain technology, harvesting in the John Kenny Farm is now done early in the morning when the sun hasn’t warmed the crops yet.  The newly harvested vegetables are then pre-cooled before these are packed and finally loaded in the freight trucks.

“There is money in farming, but it takes a lot of effort to meet market requisites and consumer demands,” Ching said.

In the past, insufficient knowledge on proper postharvest handling of vegetables often led to significant losses.  

Moreover, insect pests and plant diseases were common problems coupled by the spiraling cost of imported fossil fuel in transporting vegetables from Benguet to Metro Manila.

Despite these, however, this father of three children is more than optimistic in making his ventures work.  He suggests that farmers must use the cold chain, especially those who ship large volumes of vegetables to distant destinations.

“If you have a market in Metro Manila, the cold chain is really practical to use.  If you supply quality vegetables, then you establish a good identity.  Your profit is sure,” Ching added.

His farming business is not only earning for his family but it is also providing job opportunities to the people near his farm. With the cold chain, highland farming really becomes a profitable venture.

(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/harvest-time/)