Abstract

In the present study, comparative advantages were computed to check on the existing status of cultivation practices with the precision farming practices. The study would be helpful to the tomato industries to manage their supply chain effectively by minimizing the cost and increasing the marketing efficiency and thereby enhancing their profit. Study was conducted in the Department of vegetable crops, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu from 2007 to 2010. Field experiments were conducted in two different fields of villages at Saragapalli, Krishnagiri district to obtain the best results from harvesting of tomatoes at three different maturity stages from two different farming systems. Harvested fruits were transported from Hosur to Coimbatore. The treatment F₂M₁ (Harvesting at mature green stage of precision farming tomato) was found to be better because the lowest enzymatic activities with increased shelf life of 28.50 days.

Key words: Maturity stages, tomato, precision farming, post harvest, shelf life.