RAJSHAHI, Jan 3, 2021 (BSS)- Substantial and sustainable adoption and use of hot water treatment plants can be the vital means of reducing post-harvest losses of vegetables and fruits caused by conventional and unscientific practices.
The traditional practices cause huge loss of vegetables and various seasonal fruits including mango at different stages of the supply chain every year but the losses can be reduced qualitatively and quantitatively after the best uses of modern technologies of hot water treatment, washing and packaging.
Agricultural scientists and researchers made these observations while addressing the opening session of a daylong training workshop styled “Value Chain Based Improved Postharvest Management of Fruits and Vegetables” in Rajshahi city today.
Post-harvest Technology Section under Horticulture Research Centre of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) organized the training at Rajshahi Fruit Research Station (RFRS) under the Integration of Postharvest Technology and Best practices in the Value Chain of Fruits and Vegetables project and Agricultural Technology Project (NATP).
BARI Director Dr SM Sharifuzzaman addressed the session as chief guest, while Director of BARI Tuber Crops Research Centre Dr Kabita Anju-Man-Ara and Additional Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension Sirajul Islam spoke as special guests with Principal Investigator of the Project and BARI Chief Scientific Officer Dr Nazrul Islam in the chair.
FRS Principal Scientific Officer and Co-investigator of the project Dr Alim Uddin welcomed the participants.
Around 20 businessmen, farmers and exporters joined the training. The participants were given knowledge and ideas on how to treat, wash and package their post harvested fruits and vegetables practically at the newly established Pack house at Baneshwar Bazar.
In his remarks, Dr SM Sharifuzzaman said the major causes of post-harvest losses are enormous like improper harvesting, traditional handling practices at different stages of supply chain and post-harvest diseases.
To overcome the odd situation, it is essential to apply improved post-harvest handling practices to reduce the post-harvest losses of fruits and vegetables to a minimum acceptable level in the industry.
Post-harvest measures of mango and vegetables include improved handling, packaging, transportation and storage facilities.
He told the participants that the Baneshwar Bazar Pack House has been installed for hot water treatment, Washing and Packaging of Postharvest fruits and vegetables innovated by BARI for benefiting the farmers and traders concerned.
Steps should be taken to disseminate the improved post-harvest handling technologies among different stakeholders at different stages of the supply chain of mango fruit as it plays a vital role towards uplifting the region’s socio-economic condition.
Disseminating his expertise Dr Nazrul Islam said utmost emphasis should be given to reduce the post-harvest losses of mangoes at different supply chains starting from harvesting to retailers.
He said mango is a very demandable fruit and is one of the most relished fruit crops in the country and its demand is increasing very rapidly. From a nutritional point of view, it contains adequate quantities of appreciable – carotene, vitamin C, and dietary fiber. It also contains soluble sugars and different minerals.