Packaging in Agriculture – JSS3 Agricultural Science Lesson Note (First Term)

Packaging is the technology of enclosing or protecting products for distribution, storage, sale and use.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Define packaging.
2. State the functions of packaging.
3. Name common packaging materials used for farm products.
4. List the advantages of packaging.
5. List the disadvantages of packaging.

What is packaging?

Packaging is the technology of enclosing or protecting products for distribution, storage, sale and use.

• Design and production: packaging also covers designing, evaluating and producing the package.
• Coordinated system: it prepares goods for transport, warehousing, logistics, sale and end-use.
• Package: the container or wrapper that holds the product.
• Example: tomatoes in a basket, eggs in a crate, groundnut oil in a bottle, grain in a sack.

What are the functions of packaging?

A package has six main functions: it contains, protects, preserves, transports, informs and sells the product.

• Contains: holds the product together, such as loose grains in a sack.
• Protects: guards the product from damage, dirt, pests and weather.
• Preserves: keeps the product fresh and slows spoilage, as with milk in a sealed carton.
• Transports: makes loading, carrying and moving the product easier.
• Informs: carries a label that tells the buyer about the product.
• Sells: attracts buyers through its look, size and design.

What information is on a package label?

A label is the printed information on a package that tells the buyer what is inside.

• Product name: says what the product is.
• Quantity: shows the weight or volume.
• Dates: shows when the product was made and when it expires.
• Producer: gives the name and address of the maker.
• Registration number: processed foods sold in Nigeria usually carry a NAFDAC number.
• Storage instructions: tells the buyer how to keep the product.

What materials are used for packaging farm products?

Farm products are packed in natural and made materials, chosen to suit the type of product.

What are the levels of packaging?

There are three levels of packaging: primary, secondary and tertiary.

• Primary packaging: touches the product directly, such as a tin of tomato paste or a bottle of oil.
• Secondary packaging: groups several primary packages, such as a carton holding 24 tins.
• Tertiary packaging: holds many cartons or sacks for bulk transport and storage, such as a large container on a lorry or ship.

What are the qualities of good packaging?

Good packaging is safe for the product, strong enough for handling and cheap enough for the seller.

• Strong: does not tear or break during loading and transport.
• Clean and safe: does not poison or contaminate the food.
• Suitable: fits the size and nature of the product.
• Affordable: does not raise the price of the product too much.
• Attractive and clear: has a good design and a readable label.

What are the advantages of packaging?

The advantages of packaging are protection of the product, advertising and a better fit to the market.

• Protection: it protects the product from damage and spoilage.
• Advertising: it advertises the company through its design.
• Theme: it can be designed to suit the theme.
• Target market: it can be designed to appeal to a target group of buyers.
• Point of sale: it can be made to fit the place where the product is sold.
• Easy handling: it makes products easier to count, carry and store.

What are the disadvantages of packaging?

The disadvantages of packaging are cost, time and the risk of poor design or waste.

• Cost: it costs money to make.
• Slow production: it takes a while to make, which might slow down the production of the product as a whole.
• Design time: it is time-consuming to design.
• Offence: it might accidentally offend certain ethnic groups if offensive symbols or designs are used.
• Waste: used packs such as polythene and plastic bottles can litter the environment if badly disposed of.

Why is packaging necessary?

Packaging is necessary because products must travel and be stored without damage.

• Long distances: products are often transported to different parts of the world.
• Outer layer: they need an outer layer to prevent damage.
• Cost is worth it: packaging costs money, but products still need it.

Evaluation

1. Define packaging.
2. State five things packaging does for a product.
3. List three advantages of packaging.
4. List three disadvantages of packaging.
5. Name three materials used to pack farm products and one product packed in each.

Assignment

Explain in your own words why products that travel to different parts of the world need packaging.