5-day training programme on “post-harvest management and processing of horticultural produce” begins at PAU

Ludhiana, November 27, 2019: A five-day training programme on “Post-harvest Management and Processing of Horticultural Produce” began at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) under the guidance of Dr JS Mahal, Director of Extension Education, PAU. The programme has been designed for the farmers of Mizoram. Dr TS Riar, Associate Director, Skill Development, said the experts will present general overview of post-harvest practices in horticultural produce, and pre-cooling techniques for enhancing shelf life and marketing period of horticultural produce. Besides, experts will shed light on pack house design and operations, honey processing and packaging, estimation of quality parameters of fruits and vegetables, post-harvest handling of horticultural produce, packaging techniques for fruits and vegetables, and processing of spice crops and onion, he informed. Dr Rupinder Kaur, Professor of Extension Education, said the trainees will be provided knowledge about the use of solar dryers for drying of horticultural produce; refrigerated storage of fruits and vegetables; cleaning, grading and waxing of citrus fruits; and processing of mentha. Dr Tarsem Chand, technical coordinator of the course, said the trainees will visit Punjab Horticultural Post-harvest Technology Centre, Food Industry Business Incubation Centre, Centre of Excellence for Citrus Fruits and farm of a progressive farmer.