Farmers Review Africa July/Aug 2017 Farmers Review Africa July/Aug 2017 | Page 58

Supplement
Potato harves ng and processing machines
Potato harvesting and processing
machines
Potato is a versatile, carbohydrate-rich food such as potassium, phosphorus and them to spread rapidly and cause serious losses.
highly popular worldwide and prepared and magnesium, and contains folate, pantothenic To prevent bruising, inspect and adjust harvesting
served in a variety of ways. Freshly harvested, it acid and ribo avin. Potatoes also contain equipment frequently. Reduce drop heights,
contains about 80 percent water and 20 percent dietary antioxidants, which may play a part in bouncing, and rolling by padding impact areas
dry matter. About 60 to 80 percent of the dry preventing diseases related to ageing, and and adjust contact surfaces.
matter is starch. On a dry weight basis, the dietary bre, which bene ts health.
protein content of potato is similar to that of
Tubers are usually conveyed from the harvesters
cereals and is very high in comparison with other Harvesting the potato crop is a critical part of into dump trucks or bins. When transporting
roots and tubers. the entire potato production and marketing tubers from the eld to the packing shed, cover the
operation. Crop yield and quality cannot be load with a tarp to reduce exposure to high
In addition, the potato is low in fat. Potatoes are increased during harvest, but they can be temperatures and sunlight. Exposure to light can
rich in several micronutrients, especially vitamin decreased, sometimes drastically.
C - eaten with its skin, a single mediumsized
cause greening.
If harvesting by hand, be careful not to nick
potato of 150 g provides nearly half the daily One of the biggest problems to be controlled potatoes with your digger. Carefully transfer
adult requirement (100 mg). e potato is a during harvest and handling is bruising. When tubers into bins, shade bins, then transport to
moderate source of iron, and its high vitamin C bruising occurs in the early stages of postharvest your packing shed.
content promotes iron absorption. It is a good handling, the potatoes get nicked and become
source of vitamins B1, B3 and B6 and minerals breeding grounds for microorganisms, allowing
July - August 2017
[58] FARMERS
REVIEW AFRICA
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