Innovative Post-Harvest Management and Value Chain of Horticultural Crops: A Review

Abstract

Horticultural products like fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices, and tubers are critical to nutrition, income, and commerce but are highly perishable as a result of high water content, high respiration rate, and vulnerability to microbial spoilage. Post-harvest losses, as high as 20–40% on an international basis, continue to be a significant constraint, especially in developing nations where both infrastructure and technology deficits are severe. This review emphasizes the magnitude and causes of post-harvest losses, advances in post-harvest management technologies in recent times, and value addition strategies that can increase shelf life, minimize wastage, and maximize profitability. It also discusses innovative techniques such as cold storage using solar power, modified atmosphere packaging, nanotechnology, and ICT-based logistics, and farmer-focused extension models such as field schools, digital platforms, and interventions led by cooperatives. Enabling conditions, adoption barriers, and indicative case studies are explained with the aim of highlighting the existing needs for coordinated, low-cost, and scalable solutions. It also includes different value added product such as candy, jelly jam and different beverage and non-beverage product. The article concludes that a technology–extension market integrated path, underpinned by innovations in existing financial and policy frameworks, is critical to address post-harvest losses, enhance farmer livelihoods, and provide sustainable horticultural value chains.