Infrared Thermal Imaging: A Practical Educational Tool to Improve Smallholder Farmer Postharvest Practice in Fiji

ABSTRACT

Here we discuss the novel application of handheld infrared thermal imagery as a learning tool to help smallholder farmers improve postharvest temperature management. Farmers in the Fiji Islands were trained in using a handheld thermal camera to view a series of on-farm demonstrations highlighting the consequence of poor postharvest practice. We observed that smallholder farmers accurately interpreted thermal imagery and the implication of poor practices. Our results showed thermal imagery has the potential to better communicate fundamental concepts of postharvest management. The availability of a range of iPhone, iPad, and Android platforms also means this technology can be widely accessible.

KEYTERMS:

• smallholder farmers
• postharvest food loss
• temperature management
• infrared thermal imagery
• agricultural training
• education tool

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the assistance provided by staff from the Fiji Government's Ministry of Agriculture. The authors have no affiliation with the company manufacturing, selling, or distributing the product, nor was any part of this work funded by any commercial companies linked to or affiliated with these companies.

Funding

This preliminary study was funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (Grant AGB 2009-044).