POST-HARVEST HANDLING OF HORTICULTURAL CROPS VITAL: PAU EXPERT

Ludhiana, June 29, 2017: ThePunjab Horticultural Post-harvest Technology Centre (PHPTC), located on Punjab Agricultural University campus, organized a training programme on “Post-harvest Handling of Fruits and Vegetables” for farmers producer companies namely, Fatehgarh Sahib Vegetable Producer Company Limited and Dholewal Grain Producer Company Limited. The training programme was sponsored by NABARD. The farmers were given hands on training in different techniques involved in grading, packaging, storage, processing and marketing of perishable produce. They were also made aware of food processing techniques at household level, and importance of fruit and vegetable processing in boosting their income. The farmers were given tips on selling of fresh vegetables in consumer packs for maintaining quality and earning better market price.

Dr B.V.C. Mahajan, Director of the Centre, said the horticultural crops are highly perishable and are bound to spoil if not handled properly after harvest. The main reasons for these losses are the non-availability of adequate post-harvest infrastructure at farm and market level; and lack of awareness about post-harvest handling practices among farmers, he observed. Therefore, there is a need to educate farmers regardingcareful handling of valuable horticultural produce so that post-harvest losses are minimized, he stressed.

Dr Mahesh Kumar and Dr Swati Kapoor conducted the training programme.