1. Why it Matters for Best Outcomes

Farming doesn’t end at harvest — in fact, that’s where profits are won or lost. Timely harvesting, efficient tools, and proper post-harvest practices (cleaning, grading, drying, storage, packaging) protect quality and reduce wastage. Without these, even a bumper harvest may fetch poor prices or rot before reaching the market. This parameter reflects a farm’s ability to safeguard value and extend produce life after the field.

2. When Adoption is Favorable

Farms that use appropriate harvesting technologies (sickle-to-combine harvesters, fruit pickers, threshers, dryers) ensure speed, uniformity, and reduced crop loss. Adoption of post-harvest technologies like grading machines, pack-houses, cold storage, or simple solar dryers boosts market acceptance and income. Such farms face fewer rejections, negotiate better prices, and often access premium markets, including exports.

3. When Adoption is Unfavorable

Manual or delayed harvesting leads to losses in both quantity and quality. Over-ripened, bruised, or ungraded produce fetches poor prices. Lack of storage or drying exposes produce to pests, fungi, or weather damage. Farms without post-harvest facilities are forced into distress sales, losing potential value addition. Over time, this reduces profitability despite good yields.