1. Human resource management training for post-harvest management and value addition products Next End

2. Human Resource Management (HRM, HR) is the management of an organization's employees. While human resource management is sometimes referred to as a "soft" management skill, effective practice within an organization requires a strategic focus to ensure that people resources can facilitate the achievement of organizational goals. Introduction End Next

3. Training on Post-Harvest Technologies The Basics of Postharvest Technology The three main objectives of applying postharvest technology to harvested products are: 1.To maintain quality (appearance, texture, flavor and nutritive value) 2.To protect food safety, and 3.To reduce losses (both physical and in market value) between harvest and consumption. End Previous Next

4. Postharvest Technology End Previous Next

5. Temperature and Relative Humidity Control Fruits, vegetables and cut flowers are living, respiring tissues separated from their parent plant. Keeping products at their lowest safe temperature (0 °C or 32 °F for temperate crops or 10-12°C or 50-54 °F for chilling sensitive crops) will increase storage life by lowering respiration rate, decreasing sensitivity to ethylene gas and reducing water loss. End Previous Next

6. Storage practices Previous NextEnd

7. Storage of horticultural crops The lot of produce must not contain damaged or diseased units, and containers must be well ventilated and strong enough to withstand stacking. In general proper storage practices include temperature control, relative humidity control, air circulation and maintenance of space between containers for adequate ventilation, and avoiding incompatible product mixes. End Previous Next

8. Value Addition Value added refers to the additional value created at a particular stage of production or through image and marketing. Value added agriculture is a process of increasing the economic value and consumer appeal of an agricultural commodity. It is an alternative production and marketing strategy that requires a better understanding of the rapidly changing food industry and food safety issues, consumer preference and effective management. End Previous Next

9. Public sector organizations involved in the postharvest management of horticultural crops 1.National Horticulture Board (NHB) 2.Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) 3.National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) 4.National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) 5.Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MFPI) 6.National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) 7. Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) 8.National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development 9. Commodity Boards - Spice, Coffee, Coconut, Agmark, etc End Previous Next

10. Strategies Needed by Scientists Application of conventional and biotechnological processes to the development of improved varieties having high production potential with high quality attributes and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses; Research into mechanization of the processing of unexploited indigenous as well as exotic crop species. Development of economical methods of monitoring temperature and relative humidity in CA/MA/MAP/Low pressure storage; Technological improvement of the minimal processing of fresh produce. End Previous Next

11. Strategies Needed by Growers Adaptation of the technique of high density planting in order to increase productivity and quality, for crops such as mango, pineapple, banana, tomatoes, onion, potatoes, etc.; Efficient land and input use programs – arid cultivation, fertigation, water harvesting; Mechanization of efficient harvesting techniques particularly for large orchards and plantations. Knowledge on postharvest biology of the produce. End Previous Next

12. Technologies, industrial plants and machinery must be designed to suit the processing requirements of available raw materials at specific locations; Facilitate industrialization in production centres. Industry should make provision for guaranteeing stable prices to horticulturalists and reliable supplies must be provided at a reasonable price to the consumer; Improvement of low cost appropriate packaging material; Focus on the utilization of the wastage from the processing industry as by products. Strategies Needed by Industries End Previous Next

13. Postharvest management and technology adoption is a continuous uninterrupted active process undertaken by a chain of researchers, extension workers, growers and end users. Consideration must therefore be given to the following by planners, administrators and other concerned: Encourage the corporate sector to undertake contract farming of crops to keep away multiple intermediaries between grower and processor; Replicate the Safal market of Bangalore in other locations of the country to achieve backward, forward and terminal marketing of produce; Establish farm level zero energy cool chambers and expand the use of cold chains for transport and storage; Introduce private and corporate entrepreneurs in sharing investment in the establishment of efficient marketing systems; Create an on-line marketing information system; Increase the number of AEZ/SEZ for export oriented crops like mango, banana, grapes, pomegranate, gherkins, onion, potato etc., in the country. Including small and marginal farmers who lack market power for merchandising their produce; Training of farmers through institutions, universities, NGO’s and Government agencies on Field Assessment of Quality (FAQ) crops for export. Integration of horticulture with agro rural tourism. Let us sum up End Previous