EWS-Agronomy Troubleshooting Guide
Marigold Spinning Method
The Spinning method: An Innovative Post-Harvest Technique for The Rainy Season in Marigold Farming by Thai farmers
Marigold flowers are cherished worldwide for their vibrant colors and multiple uses in decoration, religious ceremonies, and even medicinal purposes. However, marigold farming faces challenges, especially during the rainy season, when excess moisture can lead to poor flower quality and reduced shelf life. In Thailand, farmers have devised an innovative post harvest technique we can call it “ The spinning method” to overcome challenges faced during rainy season cultivation.
This unique method has proven effective in enhancing both shelf life and quality of marigold flowers by efficiently removing excess water.
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Post-harvest challenges for marigold flowers during the rainy season
Flowers Rotting: High humidity and excess moisture during harvesting can activate the growth of the fungus causing flower rot. Proper drying techniques are needed to prevent this issue.
Shortened Shelf Life: Increased moisture levels can significantly shorten the shelf life of marigold flowers, resulting in faster decay and deterioration.
Transportation Issues: The wet environment can make it challenging to transport marigold flowers without causing damage or increasing the risk of spoilage, which may negatively affect their quality reaching market or traders.
“The Spinning method” Solution for Rainy season on post harvest challenges in Marigold
During the rainy season, excess moisture is a significant concern for flower farmers. In Thailand, farmers have adopted a practical method to address this issue: Spinning the flowers in a centrifuge effectively removes excess water from the flowers immediately after harvesting.
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Benefits of spinning Method
Reduced flowers rotting: By eliminating surface moisture to prevent fungal growth that causes flower rotting.
Shelf life improvement and enhance market value of the flowers: By removing excess water, the flowers remain fresh for a longer time, reducing post-harvest losses and increasing market value. This advantage can result in higher profits for farmers compared to those farmers who are selling non-spinned flowers.
Improved Transportability: Flowers with less surface water are lighter and less prone to damage during transport. This enhances their durability and appearance, making them more marketable and easier to handle.
Simple and Effective: 5 steps to implementing Spinning method
STEP 1 - Harvesting:
Marigold flowers are harvested at their harvesting at 80-90% mature/bloom, long peduncle, early in the morning when the flowers are fresh and less likely to be damaged.
STEP 2 - Preparation:
The harvested flowers are carefully collected in plastic baskets or containers, ensuring minimal damage during transport to the processing/spinning area.
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STEP 3 - Spinning technique:
Equipment: Farmers use a simple hand-operated or motorized spinning device, these devices can be easily constructed using available materials or purchased from agricultural supply stores.
Loading the Flowers: The flowers are carefully placed in a basket attached to the spinning device. Ensure that the basket is not overloaded otherwise flowers can fall out and also to allow for effective spinning. Spinning: The device is then spun at a moderate speed for 8-12 seconds. The centrifugal force generated during spinning effectively removes excess water from the flowers without causing damage.
STEP 4 - Post-Spinning Drying:
After the spinning process flowers are spread out in a well-ventilated area where proper air fans are installed to air-dry further, ensuring any remaining moisture evaporates. This step is crucial for preventing fungal growth and ensuring the flowers remain fresh for longer periods
STEP 5 - Packing: Once the flowers are dry, they are packed in breathable/arable plastic bags to prevent any moisture built up and stored, the packing method in Thailand differs significantly from other markets. Flowers are generally sorted by size, with XL and L flowers packed in numbers of 50, and M and S flowers in numbers of 100 each.
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Implementing the Spinning Method in Your Farm/Area/country
The success of the spinning method in Thailand provides a valuable model for marigold growers around the world. By adopting this technique, farmers in other countries can achieve similar benefits. Following are some recommendations to adopt this method in your area or country or globally:
Cost-Effective and time-effective process: The method requires minimal investment in machinery which can be assembled/manufactured locally as per your requirement and can be easily integrated into existing farming practices. Also the method requires less time so farmers can process large quantities quickly and effectively.
Assessing Local Conditions: As the spinning method is majorly effective during the rainy season, it can be adapted and used as per different climate and local conditions. Farmers should evaluate their local weather patterns to determine the best times to use this method.
Training and awareness: Proper training on handling of the spinning machines is required.
