Abstract:
Post-harvest losses in Sri Lanka significantly impact food security and agricultural
productivity among vegetable crops, fruit crops, diversified crops and overall crop harvest.
The study was aimed to search for awareness and knowledge gaps, providing insight into
curriculum reform to raise knowledge, among agricultural undergraduates in Sri Lanka.
Despite the growing recognition in awareness of post-harvest losses, there are major gaps
in the accuracy of the knowledge and integration of technological advancements in
solutions to reduce the loss. A Survey was conducted from December (2024) to February
(2025) among agricultural undergraduates studying in their third and fourth year. Data
were collected using a self-administered online questionnaire comprising open-ended and
closed-ended questions. The study revealed that 93.1% of the respondents were aware
and knowledge about post-harvest losses in vegetable crops. Among them majority of
79.4% of the respondents identified poor farmer awareness as the main challenge in
reducing post-harvest losses in Sri Lanka. According to the undergraduates’ view, study
identified mechanical damage during harvest and post-harvest handling as the major cause
of post-harvest loss in vegetable crops. Undergraduates stated that both the government
and private sector are effective in addressing post-harvest losses in vegetable crops.
However, when they were examined on modern technological integration into post
harvest management, the majority (73.5%) stated about cold storage facilities, which
shows a considerable knowledge gap among the agricultural undergraduates in Sri Lanka
regarding modern technological adaptations. Although their awareness of postharvest
vegetable loss increased with their academic exposure. The understanding and recognition
level of awareness among the agricultural undergraduates about post-harvest loss
influences the direction of future agricultural practices and policy building which positively
on food security and sustainability in Sri Lanka’s agriculture post-harvest wastage.
