International Journal of Horticulture, 2017, Vol.7, No. 26, 239-245
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treatment of calcium chloride can be utilized to extend the storage life of carrot and tomato fruits (Bhattarai, 2011;
Isaac and Maalekuu, 2013). Calcium can also reduce pathogen growth, textural break down and ripening and
decay (Conway et al., 1994). Therefore, this research was undertaken to identify the market based solutions
addressing supply chain constraints and appropriate dose of calcium chloride for long storage life of carrot in
Nepal.
2 Research Methodology
The study was conducted in Bhaktapur and Kathmandu districts of Nepal. The study covered the major market
centres of these districts along the road corridors and the production pockets linked to the market centres. This
study applied both qualitative and quantitative research methods for obtaining information on basic data of carrot.
To generate supply chain related data Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and field observation was conducted in
Manohara-Kalimati road corridor in May month of 2016. Furthermore, lab experiment was also conducted under
Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications at Horticulture Research Division (HRD),
Khumaltar. For lab experiment, Nepa Dream variety of carrot harvested from farmer’s field Manohara and
brought to HRD, Khumaltar during February- March, 2017. Carrot root were dipped in different concentration of
calcium chloride viz. 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5%, 3% and 3.5 for fifteen minutes. The roots were then air dried
and 2 kg of roots was kept on open tray for shelf life study. Each tray was considered as one treatment and five
roots were numbered 1 to 5 individually for determining physiological weight loss. The total soluble solid (0 Brix)
was determined by hand refractometer.
3 Research Findings
3.1 Carrot production scenario
Many farmers in Nepal have been growing carrots instead of their usual crops like maize and millet because of its
high returns. Farmers have been switching to carrot farming because the market for this product is still growing.
They are using sigma, new kuroda, early Nantes and Nepa Dream hybrid seeds to grow carrots. Nepal produces
around 31,405 tons of carrots annually on 2,685 hectares of land, as per the latest report of the Ministry of
Agricultural Development. The Central Region is the largest producer of carrots in the country. It grows 12,330
tons of the carrots, accounting for 39 percent of the total output. The Eastern Region comes second with 10,000
tonnes, or 32 percent of the total. The Western Region takes third place with 5,100 tonnes, or 16 percent of the
total carrots grown in the country (Table 1).
Table 1 Carrot production in Nepal -2014
Region
Production (tones)
Area (Ha.)
Eastern Region
10,087
1,115
Central Region
12,337
854
Western Region
5,102
291
Mid- Western Region
2,589
331
Far Western Region
1,291
96
Nepal
31,406
2,687
Note: Ministry of Agriculture Development, 2015
3.2 Carrot supply chain (Manahara-Kalimati corridor)
Major carrot production sites in this corridor are Manohara Khola, Bodephant and Mulpani and main market
centres are Bhaktapur, Garcha Bazar and Kalamati. The carrot produced by the farmers in this corridor is collected
by about 50 % in the collection centre. From collection centre, 80% goes to the wholesalers at Kalimati market
and remaining 20% goes directly to the local market at Bhaktapur. About 30% carrot in the season goes to cold
storage (Table 2).
For the marketing of the carrot in Manahara-Kalimati corridor area there are three main supply chains followed
according to the accessibility.
