Package of Practice: Bagging – VNR Madhur

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What is bagging?

Bagging is a procedure in which fruits are bagged or covered with different materials like foam net, paper bag or by muslin cloth respectively, with a view to protect fruits from various biotic and a-biotic stresses.

Fruits are bagged with foam net and paper bag

Materials required for bagging

  • Butter paper –bag
  • Foam Net (Bottle neck) — 1 per fruit

Materials required for Bagging – Foam Net and Butter Paper Bag

Advantage of bottle neck foam net is that as the size of fruit increases during its development the foam net do not slide down.

Size of Foam Net and Butter Paper Bag

Total length with tying part – 40 cm
Length – 31 cm
Extended tying part length – 9 cm
Breadth – 23 cm and 1 cm extended tying part
Transparent plastic section – 4.5 cm

When to bag VNR Madhur fruits?

It should be done at an early stage after fruit set probably when the fruit attains the size of 2-2.5 inches diameter or of lemon size.

How to do bagging?

Steps involved in bagging of fruit are:

  1. Selecting fruit- The fruits to be bagged should be free of any marks or injuries as such. Those fruits are to be selected which are tilted and not standing upright (Refer Thinning of fruits).
  2. Covering fruits –
  3. The selected fruits are to be covered with bottle neck foam net
  4. The next step is covering it up with the butter paper.
Step 1 – Inserting foam net in fruit
Step 2 – Inserting rubber band for tying the foam net
Step 3 – Image showing open place in butter paper
Step 4 – Image showing the covering of fruit with butter paper
Step 5 – Well bagged VNR Madhur fruit

Caution: Periodical audit of bagging is necessary due to damages caused by wind, rain or human interference. In the event of damages immediately address/ repair/ or replacement of bagging material is advised to ensure better quality of fruits.

Point to remember

Take great care while tying the materials (fruit-net, paper bag)

One should not damage the peduncle (stalk which joins fruit to the plant) of the fruit in any case while tying. If it is damaged then the passage of food and minerals to the fruit will stop making it fatal for the fruit.

How bagging of fruits can improve quality of fruits in VNR Madhur?

Bagging (Foam Net) helps to protect the fruits from any mechanical bruises during its growth and development till it reaches consumers hand.

The use of butter paper bag protects the fruit from any kind of pest infestation chiefly Fruit fly and also from chemical inputs used during inter-cultural operations, helps to develop/maintain uniform colour of the fruit as it safeguards fruits from direct sunlight/ sunburns. The bag will also check the entry of insect like fruit fly.