Postharvest Handling Practices and Treatment Methods for Okra in Nigeria: A Review

Over the years, okra's demand has grown in Nigeria as a result of its economic and nutritional benefits. Unfortunately, due to inadequate handling and storage procedures, the okra pods produced deteriorates and loses value. To ensure that the wastage of this produced okra reduces, proper postharvest handling practices and treatment methods of okra should be properly adopted and deployed by okra farmers, especially in Nigeria. Harvesting/handling, cleaning/sorting, grading, packing, and storage are all key postharvest handling methods for preserving okra quality and increasing the shelf life of the okra pods after harvest. Moreover, efficient postharvest treatment procedures such as postharvest heat treatment, 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP)/modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), calcium chloride (CaCl2) application, edible coating, and sanitizing chemicals have been proven to improve the shelf life of Okra. From this review, it was concluded that the quality of the harvested fruits could be maintained and shelf life extended by simply using appropriate postharvest handling practices and treatment methods.