By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
Mastering these skills ensures you harvest crops efficiently and safely, helping you deliver quality produce that meets market standards.
Compiled by: Bonface Omondi
Harvesting horticulture crops is a critical stage in crop production that determines the quality, marketability, and shelf life of the produce. For agriculture and extension professionals in Kenya, understanding the principles and practices of harvesting ensures that farmers maximize returns and reduce post-harvest losses. This chapter focuses on the technical and practical aspects of harvesting horticultural crops, emphasizing timely harvesting and appropriate use of tools and equipment.
Harvesting horticulture crops involves the careful removal of fruits, vegetables, flowers, or other plant parts at the right time to ensure optimal quality and yield. In Kenya, where horticulture is a key contributor to food security and export earnings, efficient harvesting methods are essential for sustaining farmer livelihoods and meeting market demands. This section explores the definitions of key terms related to harvesting and the importance of timing in perennial crop harvesting.
Understanding the terminology related to harvesting lays the foundation for effective communication and practice in horticulture. These terms clarify the processes and criteria used during harvesting.
Harvest refers to the process of gathering mature crops from the fields. It involves cutting, picking, or digging out the crop parts that are ready for consumption or sale. For example, in a tomato farm near Eldoret, harvesting involves picking ripe fruits carefully to avoid bruising.
Maturity is the stage at which a horticultural crop has reached its optimal size, color, and internal development suitable for harvest. Determining maturity requires knowledge of crop-specific indicators such as fruit color change or sugar content in fruits like mangoes grown in Meru.
Post-harvest handling encompasses all activities carried out immediately after harvest to maintain quality, such as cleaning, sorting, packaging, and storage. At a flower farm in Naivasha, prompt post-harvest handling is crucial to preserve flower freshness for export.
Harvest index is the ratio of economic yield (edible or marketable part) to the total above-ground biomass. For instance, in sweet potato production in Kisumu, a high harvest index means more tubers relative to leaves and stems, indicating efficient resource use.
The harvest window is the optimal period during which a crop should be harvested to achieve maximum quality and yield. Missing this window can lead to overripe or underripe produce, reducing market value. For avocado farmers in Kiambu, the harvest window is precisely determined to meet export standards.
Perennial horticultural crops such as fruit trees and certain vegetables require precise timing for harvesting to maintain quality and sustainability. Timely harvesting impacts not only the immediate yield but also the future productivity of the plants.
Harvesting at the right time ensures that fruits and vegetables have the best flavor, texture, and nutritional content. For example, timely picking of passion fruits in Thika preserves their sweetness and acidity balance, which is critical for fresh market sales.
Delaying harvest can increase susceptibility to pests, diseases, and mechanical damage, leading to significant losses. At a mango farm in Kitui, late harvesting exposes fruits to fruit flies and fungal infections, reducing marketable yield.
Produce harvested at optimum maturity tends to have a longer shelf life, enabling farmers and traders to access distant markets. For instance, timely harvesting of French beans in Nakuru allows for export to European markets without spoilage.
Harvesting perennial crops on schedule prevents overburdening the plants, which can weaken them and reduce future yields. In avocado orchards in Murang’a, leaving fruits on trees past maturity stresses branches and may cause limb breakage.
Harvesting when market demand is high enables farmers to secure better prices. For example, harvesting strawberries in Kiambu during festive seasons attracts premium prices due to increased consumer demand.
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Create a free accountThis chapter begins by defining key terms related to the harvesting of horticulture crops and emphasizes the importance of timely harvesting, especially for perennial crops, to ensure quality and yield. It then discusses various harvesting tools such as sickles, hoes, shovels, harvesting knives, buckets, baskets, and pruning shears, outlining their specific uses in the harvesting process. The chapter highlights the significance of proper maintenance of these tools and equipment to enhance their efficiency and longevity. Maturity indices, including colour, texture, size and shape, and firmness, are explained as essential criteria for determining the right time to harvest crops. Different methods of harvesting are presented, ranging from hand picking to the use of tools and machinery, each suited to particular crop types and scales of production. The chapter also covers the preparation of harvesting records to ensure accurate documentation of crop yields and harvesting activities. Finally, it outlines the procedures for establishing horticulture crops and carrying out their harvesting effectively to optimize productivity.
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