Definition of packaging and packaging criteria I

Agricultural Science JSS3 First Term

WEEK 1

Definition of packaging and packaging criteria I

Performance Objectives

Student should be able to:

        1.  State the meaning of packaging.

        2.  Mention packaging criteria.

Content

What is packaging?

Packaging with agricultural products is the science, art and technology of enclosing or protecting agricultural products for distribution, storage, sales and use. It can also be said as the putting or parcelling agricultural produce inbox, bags, baskets etc to get them ready for storage, consumption, marketing or transportation.

Packaging can also be regarded as the wrapping material around a consumer item. Packaging serves to contain, identify, describe, protect, display, promote and otherwise make the product marketable and keep it clean.

There are different packaging criteria for agricultural produce and they are as follows:

1. Nature of the product

2. Bulkiness

3. Condition of the produce (Live, frozen or dry)

4. Distance to market

1. Nature of the product: Farm products can be categorized into liquid, solid, fragile or shape form. The choice of material for packaging to a large extent is determined by the physical characteristic of the product to be packaged. For instance, If the product is solid, it requires such packaging like cartons, boxes, etc. If on the other hand is liquid in the state it requires packaging in cans which may be either metal or plastic in nature before getting to their final user.