Post-harvest Vegetable Losses in Small- scale Agribusiness Chains of Bali, Indonesia

Introduction

Bali is a small island with an area of ​​about 636.66 km2. It is also one of the provinces in Indonesia and is a well-known world tourist destination. Bedugul is a mountainous region (1,300 m) located in the middle of the island of Bali with three lakes (Lakes Beratan, Buyan, and Tamblingan) and having cool temperatures (18-25oC), which makes this region the centre of vegetable production for the needs of the people of Bali and foreign tourists. More than 100 kinds of vegetables and herbs are grown in this area in response to the needs of the tourism industry. 

The cultivation of vegetables in Bedugul is performed by small-scale family farmers with land areas ranging from 0.25-0.50 ha. This horticultural cultivation is the main business activity providing family income. Family farmers generally cultivate more than one plant species (multiple cropping), so that if one species gets a very low price, the cost of its production can be covered from the price obtained for the other species. The farmers are very flexible and can choose between alternative high-value species and varieties of vegetables or herbs in accordance with market demand, based on their interaction with actors in the upper distribution chains. Small-scale cultivation is carried out with the intensive involvement of family members using a simple technology that has evolved in response to market needs. Closed cultivation in greenhouses with simple construction using bamboo or wood and plastic Ultraviolet (UV) resistant roofing to regulate the penetration of sunlight has also emerged. End markets of the vegetables and herbs vary widely and include traditional village markets, urban traditional markets, modern supermarkets, institutional consumers (hotels, restaurants and catering services) and small markets such as incidental Sunday organic markets in the tourist area of ​​Ubud and Sanur. The volume of organic products for the purpose of this small weekly market is insignificant compared to the total production which is ​​mostly non- organic.