Postharvest Technologies for Fresh Leafy Vegetables in Myanmar

Kyaw Nyein Aye, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Yangon Technological University
Insein, Yangon, Myanmar

Introduction

Vegetables play important role in human nutrition. Apart from ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
which is principal vitamin supplied by fruits and vegetables, leafy vegetables are rich source
of essential nutrients such as vitamin A, folic acid and beta-carotene. A substantial
proportion of the carbohydrates found in leafy vegetable represents as dietary fiber.
Moreover, many therapeutic drugs in alternative medicine are originated as extract from
leaves since they have miracle ingredients. In Myanmar, like other Asian countries, people
are fond of having vegetables in their daily diet. Although there are very few export items of
leafy vegetable from Myanmar, some organic leafy vegetables has long been entering into
the value chain market. And, the application of postharvest technology for the leafy
vegetables is also a common practice in the country traditionally and commercially.
Postharvest handling like packaging, cooling, preserving for freshness of leafy vegetables
are used all over the country in usual ways of farm-to-market. In this report, the status of
postharvest technologies for fresh leafy vegetables in the country is presented by
introducing the related organizations and their activities. The use of chitosan, a biopolymer
derived from chitin, is also reported as a pre and post harvest technique for the prolong
shelf-life of crops and vegetables.

Leafy Vegetable Production in Myanmar

According to the survey, sown areas of vegetable are 405,000 hectares and that of
kitchen crops such as chili, onion and potatoes are 263,250 hectares in the country (MOAI,
2007). Many of vegetable crops were grown organically. Generally, the vegetable growers
have carrots, spinach, beans, peas, cauliflower, baby corn, chilies, asparagus, lady-fingers,
eggplants, celery, rosella, mushrooms, drumstick, squash, green mangos, leeks,
cucumbers, potatoes, tomatoes, chayote, various cabbages, kale and more. The Pyin Oo
Lwin and Inle Lake areas produce a wide variety of vegetables, while Bago specializes in
growing lady-fingers (okra) and rosella leaves. Many kinds of kitchen crops like chilies, onion
and garlic Mandalay and Sagaing Divisions. Figure 1 shows the map of vegetable growing
areas and Table 1 shows the crop calendar of some leafy vegetables.

When the market is very competitive, the growers can enjoy on-farm sales tipped on
their sites. Normally they have to bring their produce to a buying depot situated on the main
road and sell it for the day-to-day price. There can be, in some areas, a sort of growers'
association selling their commodity direct to the wholesalers. Marketing systems are varied
from region to region and from crop to crop. The main means of transport is trucks and the
major flow of commodities is to large markets and to the border areas. Retailers are also
very active in distribution of fresh produce in the local and street markets to the consumers
even up to their doorsteps in remote villages and fields. There is no or very few quality
assurance system for the public consumption. The quality management throughout the
commodity chain is mainly physical based on local materials and traditional wisdom (Aung et
al., 2005).

Fresh fruits and vegetables and their processed products are the leading products in
market in the tropical region especially in the countries in Southeast Asia. Increasing the
shelf-life of these products has been the aim of researchers as it benefits import, export,
local sales as well as industrial processing.

Figure 1. The map showing the annual total sown area of vegetables (MOAI et al., 2005)
 Table 1. The crop calendar and their average yield in a year in Myanmar

Sr. Crop Name Major Seasons Unit Yield

Grow (per acre)
Area Growing Harvesting Avg. Max.
1 Mustard SGG Nov. Feb. to Mar. Basket 6 11
MDY (equiv. 6 11
MGW to 6 11
KCN 25 Kg) 8 11
KYR 8 11

2 A. Gree MGW May. to Jun. Sep. to Oct. Basket 10 14

n SGG (equiv. 13 15
Gra MDY Nov. to Dec. to 10 15
m YGN Feb. to Mar. 25 Kg) 10 20
(Rai PGUe 14 20
n) AYW 14 20
B. Gree MGW 10 20
n SGG 14 20
Gra
m
(Win
ter)

3 Cabbage SHNs May. to Jul. Aug. to Oct. Viss 4000 7000

PGUe Nov. Mar. (equiv. 5000 6000
PGUw to
1.67 kg)
4 Broccoli SHNs May to Jul. Aug. to Oct. Viss 4000 7500
Feb. to Apr. (equiv.
SGG Oct. to Nov. to3500 6000
AYW 1.67 kg)
SGG = Sagaing Division
MDY = Mandalay Division
MGW = Magway Division
PGU = Pegu Division (PGUe = Eastern Pegu Division, PGUw = Western Pegu Division)
KCN = Kachin State
KYR = Kayar State
YGN = Yangon Division
AYW = Ayarwaddy Division
SHN = Shan State (SHNs = Southern Shan State) (MOAI, 2007)
 Postharvest Technologies: Myanmar Experience

Myanmar has only one packing house owned by Yangon City Development Committee
with the facility of 3 cold storage rooms at 10 tons capacity and some postharvest handling
machines for various kinds of fruits and vegetables. An exporting company has contracted
to produce the packages of fruits and vegetables to sell to Singapore market. They treat the
lettuce and broccoli with 1 degree Celsius chilled water containing disinfectant prior to pack
with air-tight plastic bag for cargo flight. For local consumption around Yangon metropolitan
area, the big wholesale market is located at the bank of Yangon River. The practice of the
handling is not very systematic, almost no postharvest technologies involved, only water
washing and bulky packs by bamboo strings. The middlemen, vegetable brokers, collect
from the farm places and bring to the wholesale market. The brokers have shops in the
market and resell to vegetable dealers for day to day selling to the local dwellers. The bulks
of vegetables packed by huge bamboo baskets are transported by pickup or truck cars from
the farm after harvesting and arrived overnight at the wholesale market called Thirimingalar
Zay. There is a plan to develop a bigger wholesale market at the outskirt of Yangon in near
future.

Myanmar's first ever horticulture show was inaugurated during early May of 2007 on a
grand scale to encourage fruit and vegetable growing. The four-day horticulture show at the
Myaypadetha Island near the Kandawgyi Lake displayed a variety of fruits and vegetable
produced by different regions in the country. The horticulture show is attached with a
seminar on Myanmar fruit, vegetable and flower with resource persons submitting papers on
the aspects. The research data and growing techniques including postharvest technologies
were presented from related organizations such as Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations, Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of
Education, Ministry of Science and Technology and Myanmar Fruit and Vegetable Producer
and Exporter Association which organize and promote the country’s fruits and vegetables.

Myanmar Fruit and Vegetable Producer and Exporter Association would aim to utilize
the latest technologies in fruit and vegetable cultivation and value-added manufacturing by
importing higher quality seeds and modern agricultural machinery. One of the key aims of
the association would be to set up a special production zone for agricultural exports that
would attract local and foreign investment. The association is targeting regional markets as
well as Myanmar consumers. Unlike in the past, when people were limited to buying
whatever fruits or vegetables were in season, new advances in growing technologies,
postharvest technologies, transportation and trade mean that many varieties of produce are
now available year-round. The association would also be involved in research activities and
promote the use of vegetables as well as carrying out research and training programs.
Moreover, the access to international research and overseas training opportunities would
assist the development of the vegetable crop sector.

Under the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, two key institutions have been doing the
research activities with related to leafy vegetables. They are Yezin Agriculture University
which is located near the capital Nay Pyi Taw and the Vegetable and Fruit Research and
Development Centre of Myanma Agricultural Services which is located in Hlegu Township,
Yangon Division.
 The Vegetable and Fruit Research and Development Centre, established in 1986, has
research works at vegetable and plant tissue laboratories, tissue culture and reproduction
and gives instructions of cultivation methods and postharvest technologies to the vegetable
growers and producers. Therefore, plenty of vegetables and fruit can be produced and
available in the market with application of the findings of the research works by the center.
The centre has been conducting on vegetables and fruit grown in the region and imported
species. The centre produces new seeds of vegetables and production of hybrid vegetables
is under experiment. The researchers are making efforts to become the centre on which
vegetable growers and consumers can rely so that the kind of vegetable and fruit of high
quality will be produced based on their expertise and experience. Similarly as Yezin
Agricultural University, the universities under the Ministry of Science and Technology and
the Ministry of Education have also been doing their researches to contribute the agriculture
and food science including those related to the leafy vegetables as well. Especially,
department of biotechnology from Yangon Technological University has done doctoral
researches such as analysis pesticide residues in leafy vegetables and application of
chitosan in agricultural sector.

Under the Ministry of Commerce, an organization called Myanma Agricultural Produce

Trading (MAPT) has laid down several objectives, in line with government’s trade policy,
including the assistance for the enhancement of better quality crop production striving for
export promotion. MAPT undertakes laboratory analysis and testing of soil and water, quality
of food grains and extends technical assistance on postharvest technology. MAPT’s one of
the functional centers, Postharvest Technology Application Center which is based in Hlegu
is serving the postharvest activities, research, development and extension works especially
food grain, fruits and vegetables and issuance of certificate related to quality of crops and
analytical results of chemical compositions, pesticides residues, Aflatoxins etc.

Myanmar is an agro-based country and postharvest technology is essentially needed for

the economy of the whole country. However, the fresh produce supply chain has not yet
been systematically growing throughout the country.

Post-harvest decay and desiccation are the two major causes of short shelf-life of
horticultural crops. Decay of fresh produce can be reduced to a certain extent by minimizing
the mechanical damage and enhancing the natural resistance of the produce by storage at
low temperature and by optimizing the conditions (controlled atmosphere: modification of
oxygen and / or carbon dioxide concentration) that would slow the ripening process.
Diseases of postharvest products vary for different kinds of fruits or vegetables and depend
on kind of products and causative agents. Fresh fruits and vegetables can be infected
before and after harvest by different species.

The use of pesticides in the agriculture is threatening the quality health of consumers.
The residues after harvesting could be detected in some leafy vegetables. In Myanmar, the
organophosphate type of pesticides are being legally imported with several brand names
such as Acephate, Dimethoate, Malathion and Chlorpyrifos. Table 2 shows those pesticide
residues in various leafy vegetables detected during a week after application of pesticide
spraying on the trial cultivation fields.
Table 2. Pesticide Residues in Various Leafy Vegetables Detected During a Week after Application

Days after Pesticide Residue in Green Pesticide Residue in Mustard Pesticide Residue in Kale Leaves
Application Gram Leaves Leaves
of Various
Pesticides
on Different Acephate Dimethoate Malathion Chlorpyrifos Malathion Chlorpyrifos
Leafy pesticide pesticide pesticide pesticide pesticide pesticide
Vegetables concentrati concentration concentration concentration concentration concentration
on (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm)
1 2.48 3.20 0.34 0.22 0.33 0.06
3 2.40 3.06 0.20 0.02 0.19 0.04
5 2.11 2.76 0.14 ND 0.15 ND
7 0.95 2.65 0.08 ND 0.13 ND
ND = Not detected (Theingi Nwe, 2007)

To control the diseases caused by pathogens especially fungi several chemicals have
been used. The application of antifungal agent is by far the most effective method to control
the diseases. However, chemical control faces problem such as: development of resistance
of storage pathogens against fungicides, reluctance of the general public to consume
produce treated with fungicides and their threat to the environment. Thus, there is a growing
need to develop alternative approaches for efficient control of storage diseases using
bioactive substances. Chitosan, a natural polymer of β-glucosamine was found to be
fungicidal against fungi. It has been applied by coating on fruits and vegetables such as
tomato, pepper, cucumber and strawberry. Chitosan is also known to be a potential elicitor
of plant defense system such as chitinase (that can destroy cell walls of pathogens),
phytoalexin (antibiotic that is toxic for bacteria and fungi) and synthesis of proteinase
inhibitor. Induction of chitinase activity was found also in early stages of germination for
several seeds coated with a thin membrane of chitosan and its derivatives. Chitosan
appears to play a dual function by interfering directly with fungal growth and also by
activating defense processes in host.

Application of chitosan in postharvest technology

For agriculture, some primary uses of chitin and its derivative chitosan are a seed
treatment, growth stimulator and natural preservative. On the other hand, chitin and chitosan
also can be used as biofungicides and regulator for seeds and plants (Thazin Han, 2006).

Noguchi and Katsumori (1991) reported that treated cabbage seeds by chitosan before
germination can make yield higher than control about 47%. Some researchers have seen
research effect of chitosan on membrane as it can filter O2 and CO2. Depending upon this
property, chitosan is very important role in respiration and photosynthesis of plant. It can
also be concluded that chitosan can extend the shelf-life of fresh produce as well. Robert
(1989) has used chitosan’s salt as stimulating element. It can be applied following some
methods such as dipping seeds and roots in chitosan solution or spraying the solution on
leaves, etc. Most of them can increase yield and proteins content in seed and also make
plant resistant to diseases.

There are many other researches not only apply recommend chitosan as growth
stimulating agent but also let the handlers use it as an organic fungicide with high
preservative activity. The antifungal effects of chitosan had been demonstrated in several
experiments in terms of enhancing chitinase activity. After applying chitosan, plants often
contain large amount of chitinase activities that can attack chitin cell wall of pathogen
fungus. Chitosan’s antifungal activity could allow farmers greater flexibility in their
postharvesting schedules.

Proper handling for organic vegetables

The rapid growth of the market for organic crops and advancements in methods to
authenticate their origin require a proactive approach to setting acceptable organic farming
standards. Systems to detect the presence of agro-chemicals would have to be constantly
updated in line with the introduction of new herbicides, pesticides and so on.

The present organic farming regime is far from satisfactory. By formulating present
methods to produce organic crops, fruits and vegetables, food scientists could come up with
recommendations for improved farming procedures and crop handling.

Research is an essential component in the further development of organic farming in

Myanmar. At the Ministry of Science of Technology and Myanmar Fruit and Vegetable
Producer and Exporter Association, researchers and food technologists are currently
engaged in a number of organic-farming related researches, including organic fruit and
vegetable farming, and utilisation of chitosan as a bio-compatible growth stimulator.

To promote organic farming, it is essential that farmers are made aware of optimal
procedures to produce safe, high quality crops and alternatives for agro-chemicals.

Conclusion

To recommend for the postharvest technology development, although the concerned

people from the related organizations has gained the knowledge about vegetable handling,
they still have lack of adequate facilities so that the certification process for the quality fresh
produce, organic vegetables, the supply chain system and modern testing equipments
should be improved. The national organizations like Myanmar Fruit and Vegetable Producer
and Exporter Association have encouraged the local vegetable growers to produce more
quality products and to consult their postharvest development in quality as well as their
marketing concepts. Together with developing postharvest technologies for leafy vegetables
in Myanmar, the expansion of export market to lead the country’s economy should also be
accordingly promoted. Technology transfer and fresh produce supply chain management
including exchange of proper handling techniques among the countries in the region are to
be strengthened with workshops of this kind.

Certifying organic vegetables in Myanmar would require, as a first step, documenting the
current status of organic production throughout the country and identifying currently
available expertise. The country needs to apply principles of modern agriculture, postharvest
and biotechnology in new methods and procedures for organic farming, and training experts
and inspectors in the practical aspects of supervising organic vegetable production.
Chitosan is bio-compatible and bio-degradable and is used as a fungicide and plant
stimulator and shelf-life promoter. Its value as a natural additive in horticulture and
postharvest handling procedures would have to be further investigated.
 Acknowledgement

The author would like to thank AVRDC-ADB RETA 6376 project for organizing the
workshop on Best Practices in Postharvest Management of Leafy Vegetable in the Greater
Mekong Sub-region Countries. Thanks are also extended to Yangon Technological
University and Myanmar Fruit and Vegetable Producer and Exporter Association for the
encouragement the research activities in postharvest technologies for fresh leafy
vegetables.

References

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