08 Aug 2013|Noida | Amity University Campus, Sector-125
Three day Workshop on Post Harvest Technology & Cold Chain Management concludes at Amity University
40% of farmed products perish due to lack of proper post harvest operations in India. To combat the problem and mull over the potential solutions, Amity International Centre for Post Harvest Technology & Cold Chain Management in collaboration with the Post Harvest Education Foundation, USA organized three day Workshop on “SOUTH ASIA POST HARVEST E-LEARNING” from August 6-8, 2013 at Amity Campus, Sector-125, Noida.
The Workshop of South Asia Post Harvest E-Learning, which was initiated by Post Harvest Education Foundation in January 2012, concluded during this last workshop.
The workshop witnessed the participation of various stakeholders from India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Srilanka, Bangladesh.
The valediction ceremony was graced by Dr. Ashok K Chauhan- Founder President, Amity Group, Dr. Lisa Kitinoja, Founder- The Postharvest Education Foundation, USA and Dr. Sunil Saran, Chairman, Amity International Centre for Post Harvest Technology & Cold Chain Management.
Giving away the Certificates to the participants and congratulating them, Dr. Ashok K Chauhan said that the field of Post Harvest Technology & Cold Chain Management has immense scope for growth and development across the globe, therefore, is apt for those aspiring to achieve dizzy heights in their career. Dr. Chauhan thanked Post Harvest Education Foundation for partnering with Amity University for such a grand initiative.
Also present during the valediction were Dr. Nazir Mir, Global Expert on Modified Atmosphere in Packaging of frozen fresh fruits and vegetables and Dr. Kit L. Yam, Graduate Programme Director, Rutgers, USA.
Dr E Divakar Sastry, while presenting his talk on “Post Harvest Management – Food Safety Issues” said that fresh food is always good. Presently, all types of food are available at all places in all seasons which involve long distance travel making them susceptible to spoilage and wastage. Moreover, to increase the profit in increased market competition and make the product attractive, sellers indulge in adulteration of food items. Referring to the adulteration in Spices, Dr. Divakar said that there are two different set of features present in Spices– intrinsic qualities which includes moisture, volatile oil, oleoresins and extrinsic quality such size, appearance, color. Spices are usually changed into shape like curry powder, consumer packed spices, grounded spices and then adulteration can be done easily in both intrinsic and extrinsic ways. Dr. Divakar also elaborated on ways to deal with adulteration in various food items through Physical examination, chemical examination and Specialized test.
Amity International Centre for Post Harvest Technology & Cold Chain Management has been instituted at Amity with an aim to deliver scientific and technical manpower in the areas of post harvest technology and cold chain management through teaching, training and research.
During three days, numerous technical sessions took place including “On-Farm Storage Technology can Save Energy and Raise Farm Income”, “Physiology of ripening”, “Cold Chain Management – A Task Made More Uphill with Debates in India”, “Food Safety in Fruits and Vegetables”, “Modified Atmosphere Packaging for Perishable Produce”, Controlled atmosphere storage, recent advances in cold storage practices. Packaging, transportation and storage of frozen food, Loading and unloading operation in cold storage”, “Cool Bot Technology – A Boon for farmers and retailers” by industry experts from India and USA.