**5. Management of postharvest losses**

Proper handling of food commodities and minimizing postharvest losses in fruits and vegetables are crucial means for maintain quality of produce, ensuring food security and combating poverty and hunger. The main cause of postharvest loss in developing countries occurs due to lack of infrastructure and agricultural operations while in developed countries it occurs at consumer stage. Postharvest management ensures quality management, increases market share and market value of commodities, ensures proper agricultural production and minimizes postharvest losses of fruits, vegetables, cereals, pulses, oilseeds and many other agricultural commodities. It also safeguards the nutritional quality and health benefits to consumers. Postharvest management of horticultural produces involves them to keep fresh and alive even after harvest to meet consumer demands by keeping a proper care on O2 and CO2 concentration. Postharvest handling of harvested produce plays a vital role in maintain quality of produce and managing losses (**Figure 5**).

#### **Figure 5.**

*Postharvest management methods.*
