Appropriate Postharvest Handling, Processing, and Marketing of Dried Apricots in Southern Tajikistan: Baseline Assessment Trip

Objective 1 Evaluate the market and barriers to produce export-quality dried apricots

Objective 2 Assess food safety challenges and develop guidelines for good postharvest and food safety

Objective 3

Develop meaningful collaborations with in-country partners in training of local farmersObjective 4

Compare solar dryers developed at Purdue University

• Lack of price premiums is correlated with lower quality, which depends on size, color, and water content of fruit

• Lack knowledge about quality grade standards for export markets

• Water and infrastructure availability are key drivers of food safety

• Food safety protocols are not consistent across districts and farmers

• Drying protocols in the south differ from farmer to farmer and from district to district

• Drying surface is key to achieve high quality dried apricots

• Tajik Agrarian University• National Association of Business Women

of Tajikistan• Women Entrepreneurship for

Empowerment