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Preamble
(Post-harvest Managment)
Postharvest Management is an interdisciplinary science and technology applied to
horticulture produce after its harvest for its protection, conservation, processing, packaging,
distribution, marketing, and utilization to meet the food and nutritional requirements of
people. India is the 2
nd
largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world. Several
studies suggest that around 30–40% of produced fruits and vegetables are lost before they
reach final consumer. These losses occur during different stages of harvesting, handling,
packaging, transportation, in wholesale and retail markets. Moreover, only 2.5% of the
produce is processed, to minimize the losses of fruits, vegetables, flowers, plantation and
spice crops and to increase the farmers income there by guaranteeing the national food and
nutritional security. Postharvest losses vary greatly among commodities and production
areas and seasons. There is a need for man power with specialization in postharvest
management to meet and tackle the above demands and to develop an action plan for
establishing an effective post harvest research and extension programme to strengthen the
link between researchers and extensionists. Looking to the importance of this sector,the
Post Harvest Technology (Horticultural Crops), was considered as an independent discipline
till the recent past, but it was deleted as independent discipline horticulture since 2009.
However, 22 universities have continued department of Post-Harvest Management/
Technology and in some universities the discipline combined with Fruit Science department.
The post-harvest agri/ horticulture management of perishable commodities like horticultural
crops, which are primarily physiological in nature, is distinctly different than the PHT of
the food grains, fish, dairy and meat. It was therefore suggested that an independent
discipline of Postharvest Management should be considered in horticulture discipline.
There is a need for post-graduate students to conduct in-depth research on several
aspects of postharvest management in order to reduce the losses in quality and quantity
and to maintain safety of the produce between harvest and consumption and also to support
the farmers and encourage entrepreneurs thereby providing employment opportunities as
well as conducting research programmes after obtaining their degrees. They would serve
in different universities as teaching faculty and in research stations as scientists and also
can serve the nation by creating employment as entrepreneurs. M.Sc. and Ph.D. syllabi in
Postharvest Management were drafted through a series of meetings/ workshops conducted
at VCSGUUHF, Uttarakhand, BCKV, Mohanpur and IARI, New Delhi.
Courses have been designed emphasising the following thrust areas: Storage methods
to extend shelf life and to enhance the nutritional compounds in functional foods,
Standardization of processing technologies (drying, canning, freezing, etc.) for extending
shelf life, Preserve the phytochemical and nutritional content of fruits and vegetables at
every step of the food distribution system, Waste processing and value addition in fruits,
Integrating available technologies (bio-, info- and nanotechnology) through a system, Pre
and Post-harvest treatments to enhance shelf life, Testing bioactive compounds from fruits
and vegetables and their action against pathogens, Safe and minimal processing, Use of
robotics for harvesting, packing and handling of individual through bulk items; managing
logistics and supply chains effectively and efficiently, Physiological and biochemical systems
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Restructured and Revised Syllabi of Post-graduate Programmes
Vol. 1
476
regulating product deterioration and senescence, Innovations in packaging and storage
technology of fresh produce, Active and smart packaging film for food and Postharvest
treatment, Studies of reusable/ recyclable packages, Inexpensive and safer ripening systems,
Low-cost cooling methods and Sanitation and food safety practices.Besides due importance
has been given while designing the course contents towards the national priorities and
policies, viz., skill developmet and employment generation, doubling farmers income,
nutritional security and minimising food loss/ waste.
Horticultural Sciences–Post-harvest Management
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