Reducing post-harvest losses the main challenge: Researchers

The largest downside affecting the rustic’s agriculture and the rural market is post-harvest losses, say professionals. Annually, the rustic loses about Rs 2,40,000 crore throughout the post-harvest wastage of fruits and vegetables, says G J Janavi, head of the dep. of nano science and generation, TNAU.
“India is the second one biggest producer of fruits and vegetables, after China. But there are a number of post-harvest losses from the producer to the patron,” she says. This is on account of the lack of correct harvest practices, transportation and cold storage amenities, she provides. She says that around 35% to 40% of fruit and vegetable produce are wasted.

The division of nano science and generation at TNAU has been seeking to cut back post-harvest losses of culmination in any respect hyperlinks of the availability chain, say researchers at the division. While the spraying of Enhanced Freshness Formulation (EFF) on mango trees prior harvest and dipping of mangoes and bananas in EFF solution slows down ripening, and control losses at farm degree, researchers have get a hold of find out how to control losses in package houses, transportation and retail shops.

The division has devised and patented a generation where EFF is injected into nanofibres, which can be lined on a strip of foil or paper or infused in a pellet, which is positioned in a fruit carton. “The hexanal within the EFF vaporizes, which is imbibed by means of the culmination, leading to higher shelf lifestyles,” says Okay S Subramanian, professor at the division and the primary investigator of the mission.


Also, a clear movie made of nano-cellulose extracted from banana fibre, which is infused with EFF, when used as a canopy slows down ripening and brings down losses in tomatoes, mentioned Subramanian.


“We are also operating on bringing down losses during transportation. In the vaporization manner, hexanal is made to vaporize in a chamber where culmination are kept. This may also be accomplished in a truck when the culmination are being carried to lengthy distances,” he provides.


Farmers say such applied sciences would assist them a lot after they export culmination. “It takes 10 days to take culmination by means of sea to Singapore, 25 for Australia and 28 for the US. If one of these generation is used within the container, the losses could be controlled in an easy and efficient manner,” says P Pugazhendhi, 58, from Krishnagiri, who runs a firm which exports culmination.


Reducing post-harvest losses the main challenge: Researchers Reducing post-harvest losses the main challenge: Researchers Reviewed by Kailash on March 22, 2018 Rating: 5
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