Value Addition Services(cleaning/ standardization/grading/waxing/processing/ packing/ labelling etc.) before being sent to markets for sale.

(Sep 15-16, 2015–Manali)

Dr. R K Sharma, Consultant

National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management

(Formerly, Director, National Horticulture Board & Core Expert FAO,UN])

Supply Chain Management (Sorting, grading, packaging, transport & storage etc)

Primary Processing(PP efficiency directly related to value addition)

Post harvest Management (Losses)

Value Addition

Royal Delicious - Kinnaur

Global food losses and food waste extent, causes and prevention

Study conducted for the International Congress ‘Save Food’ at Inter park 2011 Dusseldorf, Germany, by Swedish Institute for Food and Biotechnology (SIK) Gothenburg. Sweden for FAO of the United Nations

Stages of PHM Loses

Save the Food ConferenceInter park 2011 Dusseldorf, Germany, by Swedish Institute for Food and Biotechnology (SIK) for FAO UN

Sorting & Grading Practices in Vegetables Adoption Level of farmers all over the Country are generally better; aware of maturity indices of vegetables as compared to maturity indices of fruits.

Lowers Adoption of Sorting & Grading Practices in Fruits

With exception of certain fruits like Apple, Papaya, Sweet lime, Kinnow, Acid lime and fruits for export markets, there is generally lack of prescription regarding production of quality fruits in terms of size, shape, weight, uniform colour, texture, TSS: acid ratio, fruit pressure etc. 

Adoption of Sorting & Grading Practices in F&V for Exports

Adoption level of recommended practices for sorting & grading, packaging etc is quite high in fruits & vegetables produced for exports to developed Countries for example- grapes and banana, cut-flowers, chives, gherkins, process-worthy quality of wine variety of grapes etc

Scenario of Packaging and Transport

For domestic markets, fruits and vegetables are generally loose packed or packed using traditional bulk packing solutions like in bamboo-baskets

Limited Adoption of Plastic Crates

Plastic crates are generally used in cases of short distance transport or when the prevalent business model facilitates its circulation at affordable cost.

Plastic crates is the single component intervention that can produce the post harvest losses at are stages of supply chain; harvest, aggregation, transport, storage, retailing etc.

Karnataka scene, left and Nasik right during 2012

Packaging Materials Used for Long Distance Transport

Long distance for transportation of fragile and highly perishable fruits/ vegetables wooden boxes are used. CFB boxes are generally used for packing high value fruits and vegetables like apples, apricot, peach etc and in cases when transportation in palletised large size CFB boxes are also used in rail transport.

Constraints in Availability of Validated PHM Protocols in Public Sector

Critical storage conditions prescribed by World Food Logistic Organisations which are commonly used by engineers for designing cold chain storage structures have not been validated for Indian agro-climatic conditions & cultivars.

Fresh Potato Temperature Storage Period Relative Humidity

Early Crop 4 – 10°C 0 – 3 months * 95%

Seed Potato 3°C @ 5 – 10 months 90 – 95%

Table Potato 4°C 5 – 10 months 90 – 95%

For French Fries 7.2 - 10°C 1 – 10 months ** 90 – 95%

For Chipping 7.2-10°C # 1 – 8 months ** 90 – 95%

Constraints in Availability of Validated PHM ProtocolsDamage to Litchi during Transport in Reefer Van - Muzaffarpur

and Alphonso mangoes from Pune to Delhi

Sprouting of onion bulbs during shipment by sea routeto Europe in Reefer Containers- unresolved case

Damage to leafy vegetables during air shipment fromKolkata to Netherlands- unresolved case

Standardization for uniform quality

• India has Agmark grades (213 items), BIS standards (products), APEDA export standards but all are voluntary & not mandatory, except veg. oils& fats.

• Washington apple AAA the same all over world

• Indian apple box contains 20, 25, 28kg-extra weight to compensate losses; Don’t know box & lot; open boxes at random, overfilling

• Standardization has to start at farm level to enable hinterland farmers grade uniform quality for intended market.

• PPCs can be starting points for Agmark Extra class, class I & class II at farm level.

Standardized fruits in consumer packs in Vasant Vihar

Adoption of Low Level of Technology in Warehousing Business Model of Cold Chain Infrastructure

In absence of national standards, cold stores these have been constructed and commissioned without following proper technical design procedures without performance-test facilities, the reefer vans/ containers are not certified

Mumbai (imported fruits), Agra (Local Potato) & Delhi (Punjab Potato)

Absence of Technical Standards for Specialised / Reefer Transport System

• Though we need specialised transport system including reefer transport no test laboratory is yet available in India for testing performance rating of specialised transport vehicles.

• Absence of economically viable technology solutions for fruit ripening system is highly capital intensive and it is not possible to enforce the same for ripening of huge volume.

• Limited Availability of Skilled Man-Power- It has been noticed that the engineering

• Curriculum does not equip graduate engineers with knowledge of biological science involving perishable commodities. Operators of cold chain infrastructure too are not equipped with knowledge of special nature of fresh horticulture produce in terms of their sensitivity to storage conditions and safety and

• A new scheme of Horticulture Park / Common Facility Centre has been introduced which facilitates higher amount of investment in Common Facilities for post harvest management of horticulture produce. But poor or no business model (flower auction houses, pack-houses).

Recommended Course of Action for Supply Chain Management

• Introduction of Production Technology for increasing percentage of quality fruits in a production lot 

• Development of appropriate design of packaging for horticulture produce, for relevant conditions in which transportation is to be made 

• Validation of critical storage conditions for Indian cultivars and in our agro-climatic Conditions 

• Validation of PHM protocols for Indian cultivars and in our agro-climatic conditions 

• Development and Introduction of economically viable Long Distance Bulk Transport Solutions for fresh horticulture produce,

Category Farmers(Thousand)

Percent

Area(thousand

ha)

Percent Average operational land holding (ha)

Marginal 670 69.71 273 28.61 0.41

Small 175 18.21 244 25.57 1.39

Semi-medium

85 8.84 230 24.11 2.71

Medium 28 2.91 156 16.35 5.57

Large 3 0.31 51 5.35 17.00

Total 961 954 0.99 ha average

Main reason - distribution of operational landholding (case of Himachal Pradesh)

Source: All India Report on Number and Area of Operational Holdings, Ministry of Agriculture, GOI, February 28 2014

NIFTEM village adoption program (since 2012)

• The students identify a village, establish work plan at the beginning of the first semester and work for 10-12 days each semester at the village site

• Work in a group under guidance of a mentor faculty and develop realistic village development plan for 4 years including identification of local resources and avenues for promoting entrepreneurship in food processing sector.

• Sensitize and train the farmers and local youth about Food Processing Encourage to become Entrepreneurs, establish micro and small Food Processing Enterprises form Producers’ Company.

• Provide access and training to prepare catalogue of traditional food production practices/ food preservation/ traditional recipes of food, etc.

VAP contd.

• Imparting trainings on basic processing and value addition techniques for enhancement of shelf life.

• Promote Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)• Conduct an extensive survey of the village & record

demographics and prepare data base.• Organize resources by providing vital linkages,

micro credits, Govt. Polices, evaluated by Sr. Management

• 8 programme completed in 39 village in 19 states• Establishing Primary Processing Centres main

thrust for value addition on community basis.

Name Of The Village Block / Sub District/ District State

Kalavacharla Rajahmundry/East Godavari Andhra Pradesh

Karakambadi Renigunta/ Chittoor Andhra Pradesh

Harihapur Hajipur, Vaishali Bihar

Chhoti Ladha Keoti/ Darbhanga Bihar

Koyli Vadodara Gujarat

Gangwa Hisar Haryana

Rawalwaas Kala Hisar Haryana

Nauni Shimla Himachal Pradesh

Tunna Mandi Himachal Pradesh

Hocher Kanke / Ranchi Jharkhand 

Rakhbaroi Vijaypur/ Sambha Jammu

Mangur And Yalgud Belgaum and Kolhapur Karnataka &Maharashtra

Pulincunnu Veliyanad/ Alappuzha Kerala

Bagroda Phanda/ Bhopal Madhya Pradesh

Simariya Seoni Madhya Pradesh

Kure Bhusaval/Jalgaon Maharashtra

Pimpri Gawli Ahamednagar Maharashtra

Name Of The Village Block / Sub District/ District State

Lathor Kaprakhole/ Balangir Odisha

Simula Balasore Odisha

Vairowal Tarn Taran Punjab

Daroli Bhai Moga Punjab

Aloda Sikar Rajasthan

Junakheda Jhalarapatan/ Jhalawar Rajasthan

Sahanawali Billothi/Sevar/ Bharatpur Rajasthan

Nandok East Sikkim Sikkim

Alanganallur Alanganallur/Madurai Tamilnadu

Kallupattai Rajakapattai/Dindigul Tamilnadu

Dhanpau &Lakhwad Dehradun Uttarakhand

Naglamohan Mathura Uttar Pradesh

Husainpur Ballia Uttar Pradesh

Arjunpur Bakshi Ka Talab/ Lucknow Uttar Pradesh

Karkatpur Wazirganj/ Badaun Uttar Pradesh

Kudrail Kurail Po/ Taka/ Etawah Uttar Pradesh

Name Of The Village Block / Sub District/ District State

Lahara Hathras Uttar Pradesh

Dakshin Kalrayar Kuthi

Cooch Behar/Cooch Behar-2 West Bengal

Kamlapur (Nimpith) South 24 Parganas District West Bengal

Uttar Shibatara Alipurduar/ Jalpaiguri West Bengal

Primary Processing Centre at village level-starting point

• Formation of FPO and aggregation• Range of components and type of facility• Approach for preparation of business plan • Broader contours of a Business Plan• Sizing of Business Activity• Project Cost Calculation and profitability

PPC equipment-NIFTEM model(Proposed for education at NIFTEM)

• Weighing Balance (2 Nos-100 Kg, 2 Nos-10 Kg)• Post-harvest Handling Equipment: set of Dumping Table/

Preparation Table (SS) , Inspection/Sorting Conveyor, Fruit & Vegetable Washing Machine with Sponger ,Grading Conveyor (Manual Type), Size or Shape Grader (4 grades).

• Semi-Automatic Packaging Machine (Shrink-wrap Type)• Plastic Crates, Pallets, forklift, Set of knifes, Hand sealer,

dustbins etc.• Modular Cold Storage (5 MT)• Solar Power Plant• Biomass Power Plant• Control Panel

Value addition through Primary Processing of white button Mushroom in Sonepat (Atterna)

Value addition through graded & small package vs

large un-graded lots sold in Mandi Azadpur

Consider the natural storage potential of fruits and vegetables intended for storage. Produce that will be placed into cold storage should not be under-mature or over-mature. Some varieties will naturally have a longer storage life than other varieties of the same type of fruit and vegetable. Even if your storage facilities are of the most modern type, and you are willing to spend an enormous amount of money, there is no way to extend the shelf life of any fruit or vegetable beyond its natural limit.

Fruits and Vegetables intended for CS – natural storage potential

KBK,Odisha, 2005

Preparation for Storage – Trimming

Trimmed before storage. Remove the outer leaves of cauliflower and leafy crops. Carrots, radishes and other root vegetables stored with their tops have a much shorter storage life than these vegetables with the tops removed.

Preparation for Storage – Sorting and/or grading In a shaded location to protect from heat gain after harvest. Never leave field containers sitting in the direct sun. Cover any containers of produce with an inverted empty container to provide some temporary shade. The pluckers can carry their plastic buckets or picking bags of produce to a shaded area and carefully dump the fruits or vegetables into larger plastic crates that can then be used for transport.

Preparation for Storage–Manually

Sorting, grading and packing by hand causes less damage to fruits and vegetables than sorting /grading/ packing using machines. If you use a packing line, keep it as simple as possible and keep it clean.

Pre-Cooling and Cooling – Forced-air cooling

Simple method suitable for all fruits and vegetables. Using moist air during cooling can reduce water loss during cooling, and is known as "evaporative forced-air cooling”. Placing only one row of containers along each side of a forced-air cooler will speed the rate of cooling (adding more rows to the same cooler will increase the numbers of hours required for cooling). Using several portable forced-air coolers that can be set up inside a cold room is an excellent way to increase your flexibility and to be able to provide as much cooling as is required in any given time period.

Banana Ripening-Kundli

Transportation of Horticultural Produce with ethylene removal pad to reach destination fresh

Source USA. Produce be transported from cold chain to retailers with Ethylene absorbent pads, Ethylene filters or Ethylene Air units to keep them fresh; effect of Ethylene be mitigated at all stages from production - consumption for quality.

Thank Yourksharma.niftem@gmail.com, sharmark54@yahoo.com

Mobile - 9818876262