Valedictory Program of the Ten-Day International Training Programme for ASEAN at ICAR-CIPHET

Ludhiana, December 5, 2024: The ten-day international training programme titled “Capacity Building on Post-Harvest Technology of Fruits, Vegetables, and Millets” concluded successfully today at ICAR-CIPHET, Ludhiana. The program, inaugurated on November 26, 2024, was attended by 16 participants representing ASEAN member states, including Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, and Thailand.

This initiative, a collaborative effort between the Government of India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), aimed to enhance the capacity of agricultural professionals in post-harvest technologies. The participants, who represented various departments under the agricultural ministries of their respective countries, gained in-depth knowledge and skills through theoretical, demonstration and industrial visit sessions.

Dr. Nachiket Kotwaliwale, Director of ICAR-CIPHET, Ludhiana, presented a report on the 10 days of the ASEAN training program. The program's sessions, led by experts in the field, focused on innovations and best practices in post-harvest technology to reduce losses and add value to agricultural produce. He called for collaboration among the ASEAN member countries and India in transfer of technology, trade of appropriate machines, training of extension functionaries and development of product standards.

During the valedictory session, the participants shared their feedback, highlighting the program's relevance and its potential to foster stronger collaborations in agricultural post-harvest management across the ASEAN region. Certificates were distributed to all participants, recognizing their active engagement and successful completion of the training.

Dr. Parvender Sheoran, Director, ATTARI-Zone-I explained the agriculture extension network in India and encouraged the participant to take lessons from Indian system. Dr. S B Singh, PS, ICAR-IIMR, Ludhiana explained the research activities of his institute. 

The event concluded with remarks from distinguished guests, including the Chief Guest, Dr. K. Alagusundaram, Ex-DDG (Agricultural Engineering & Natural Resource Management), ICAR, who emphasized the importance of knowledge-sharing and global partnerships in addressing common challenges in agriculture. He emphasized that extraction of high value compounds from agri residues yield more value than traditional processing of agricultural produce. He also advised to pay attention to specialized horticultural products of their respective countries to process into high value industrial products. 

The program was praised as a step forward in strengthening ties between India and ASEAN countries in agricultural research and development.