An insight into the post harvest handling and storage of papaya (Carica papaya L.).

Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is one among the widely consumed fruits of the world and is grown throughout the tropics and subtropics. EU markets are highly conscious of fruit quality and all markets either big or small have a preference to hermaphrodite pear shaped fruits at 50-70% yellow on arrival at the market. Fruits absolutely free from latex stain, external debris, harvest wounds, handling punctures, scratches, bruises, scars, insect residues, spray damage, over or under yellowing and 'softness' are exclusively in demand. Imports into EU markets are showing a steady increase since the year 2001 and Netherlands, UK, Germany, Portugal, France, Spain and Italy are the top seven importers. Brazil is the major supplier of papaya to EU markets while India, Pakistan, Ghana, Thailand and Ecuador are the other suppliers of importance. The cultivation in India is spread over fifteen states and Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam and Gujarat are the major papaya growing states. The challenges faced by the industry are more towards post production phase than the production phase. India exports only 0.08% of its papaya production and the export destinations are mainly towards Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE and the Netherlands. New Delhi and Mumbai are the two principal papaya markets in India while Jaipur, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad are the other markets. Sizeable arrivals have also been reported in Gauhati, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Patna, Rajpur and Jammu Markets.