Assessment of Fruit and Vegetable Waste at Wholesale Markets in Nepal for Vermicomposting

Abstract

An appraisal of the current post harvest practices and losses of horticultural produces in the major fruit and vegetable wholesale markets of Nepal was conducted to quantify the amount of fruits and vegetable wastage. This study was conducted with the view to generate useful information about the causes of loss of horticultural produce and also quantify the amount of fruit and vegetable wastage being accumulated in the market centers so that such organic wastes could be reused as resource for vermicomposting. Shelf life of different vegetable species and the nutrient content of the wastage samples of different species of vegetables were also evaluated. Survey of the three major market centers namely; Narayangadh, Pokhara, and Kalimati fruit and vegetable wholesale market and series of laboratory experiments were conducted.