Post harvest management of agricultural crops

Use of appropriate post harvest technology reduces the post harvest and storage losses; adds value to the product, generate employment in village and reestablishes agro-industries in rural sector. Presently, the farmers sell their products without processing. If they do primary processing and value addition in the villages, it will generate more income and employment in rural sector. The processing of food, feed, fiber, oilseeds and sugarcane will generate enough employment in rural areas.

Highlights:

Training was imparted to 75 farmers of Naganeri block of Thirunelveli district with the agricultural scientist on Post harvest management of agricultural crops for 2 days. If an agro processing center is established in each big village or a cluster of small villages of the targeted area on primary processing, it will generate employment to about 4-5 persons and will increase income of the farmer/processor by about 15-20 percent. Use of proper post harvest technology of perishables and semi-perishables will reduce the wastage to great extent.

Value addition of agricultural and horticultural produces

Post-harvest value addition includes primary, secondary, and tertiary processing, operations performed on farm produce. It is to provide longer shelf life, maintain/ improve quality, and enhance form, space and time utility of the produce for food, feed, fiber, fuel and industrial purposes. The post harvest operations include on-farm handling, cleaning, grading, moisture conditioning, milling, extraction, cooling, freezing, roasting, puffing, flaking, retort processing, packaging, transport, and storage. Awareness was created among the farmers to build capacity on the value addition of agricultural and horticultural produces.

Highlights:

Training was imparted to 57 farmers of Kadavur block of Karur district with the agricultural and home scientist on value addition of agricultural and horticultural produces for 2 days.