We take great pleasure in inviting you all to the “6th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ADVANCES IN AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY AND ALLIED SCIENCES (ICAATAS 2023) on June 19-21, 2023 (IN HYBRID MODE)” being organized by the Society of Agriculture Research & LOYOLA ACADEMY, SECUNDERABAD, TELANGANA), Sponsored by OIL INDIA & Scientific Partnered by “SolResLab”. We hope that you will grace the conference with your presence, which will provide you with an opportunity to meet with National- International resource persons, colleagues, and friends working in the area of Agriculture and Allied Sciences.
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PUBLICATION PARTNERS
Akinik Publication-An International Journal with NAAS RATING 5.23
International Journal of Entomology Research- Web of Science indexed
Plant Science Today, Scopus Indexed Journal (Q3)
Journal of Applied Biology & Biotechnology, Scopus & Web of Science Indexed (Q3, Special Issue)
International Journal of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, NAAS RATING- 4.98 ( Only Selected Papers )
International Journal of Statistics and Applied Mathematics, NAAS RATING- 5.12 ( Only Selected Papers )
International Journal of Advanced Biochemistry, NAAS RATING- 4.62 ( Only Selected Papers )
Sponsored Partners:
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IIMR-Indian Institute of millets research
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IIRR- Indian Institute of Rice Research
Telangana Mahila Vishwavidhyalaya, Telangana
IIOR- Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad
TNU-The Neotia University, West Bengal
Parul University, Gujrat
College of Agriculture, Tripura
Asian PGPR Society
Plant Protection Association of India, Hyderabad
Centurion University
Society for Advancement of Rice Research
Abhinava Krishi Research Organization, Sambalpur, Odisha
During Rabi season harvest period in the year 2020 there was a strange situation where farmers in the Hirakud Command area faced a shortage of labourer. It went on until the Kharif harvest time till now. Before Covid, farmers used to bring in labor mass from farther areas who were available with cheaper wages . Due to Covid, the transportation was hampered as well as the local labor were not willing to show up to work because of the fear of the novel corona virus. The harvester machines available had to take turns to cover all the fields which was time taking and they stayed unharvested for a prolonged time with ripened rice gains.
(Pic.1 #Wet Rice crop spread over road of Farmer Babulal Pradhan and Ishwara Pradhan at Bargaon, Bargarh in Odisha)
The same problem again arises this year. Farmers were learning from their mistakes and making advance arrangements to overcome it. In the mean time , rain comes unexpectedly to wipe out their hopes. Unavailability of labors and harvesting machines has again put the ripened crop to germinate in the field. Now the problems with the token system and mills not accepting low quality crop has added on to farmers’ problems.
This situation can be studied to prepare for how to take the rice production in the area to the next level . Bargarh being called the rice bowl of Odisha has a high productivity rate still there are various constraints that pull them back from enhancing the production exponentially in a sustainable way. I believe these problems does occur in other parts of India as well.One of the various such constraints includes peasant farming(the individual farmer is the owner, manager and organizer of the whole farm).Now this can be overcome by cooperative farming. This is not the end to various existing problems but definitely a strong solution.
Farmers in Remunda area of Bargarh have already adopted it. Maharastra is the pioneer state in India which is taking advantages of various government acts associated with it. If there was cooperative farming in the previous situation the farmers might not have to wait with so much of uncertainty for harvesting or crop loss of any amount. In addition to that, the in-discussion system of farming has various advantages which would attract small and marginal farmers.
Let’s have a look, HOW!!!
COOPERATIVE FARMING
Cooperativefarming is when various small or marginal farmers farm collectively and when the crop is harvested the revenue is distributed among the farmers according to the area of their personal land holdings. This was started by the first Jewish agricultural cooperative,”Kvutzat Degania” in the year 1909 in Palestine. The land holdings, livestock, labor and other such resources are pooled and used collectively. It helps in use of those resources in the best way possible while making collective purchase of inputs that decreases the overall input cost. The management decisions are taken by a managing committee elected by them. Members join voluntarily. It runs with one man one vote principle. In Cooperative farming farmers retain the right to their land .
It helps majorities having economic backwardness achieve a common economic aim. With increase in debt seen among Indian farmers the Government of India started working on various problems in Indian agriculture and cooperative movement is one of them , which is still under debate and researches are going on starting from Cooperative Planning Committee(1946) to Vyas Committee (2001/2004). It is said to “have immense potential to deliver goods and services in areas where the government and private sector failed to reach.”
IMPORTANT VARIANTS OF COOPERATIVE FARMING
Looking at the diversity in farming system in India, cooperative farming also has its categories. According to All India Cooperative planning committee (1955) ;
i) Cooperative Better Farming Society
ii)Cooperative Joint Farming Society
iii)Cooperative Tenant Farming Society
iv) Cooperative Collective Farming Society
They have difference in terms of ownership and operatorship of farming only. Both ownership and operatorship is individual in case of cooperative better and cooperative collective . In cooperative joint, ownership is individual and operatorship is collective where as in cooperative tenant is the exact opposite in this perspective.
PERKS OF COOPERATIVE FARMING
Economies of Scale:
Various problems that arise with various practices during cultivation even with application of government policies due to micro fragmentation of Indian lands can be solved by Cooperative farming. Investments that’s are not feasible for scattered plot can be undertaken on such lands for example for farm mechanization mostly heavy equipment like harvesters . Irrigation schemes are useless on fragmented plots because all others quality of irrigation water would go waste where the water can be properly utilized through enlargement of the area of operation.
Many critics suggest that yield per hectare would be increased with the help of collective farming. Looking at per man hour yield per worker can be raised. To be precise economies of scale is positively associated with pooling of land of numerals farmers.
Reducing agricultural labor force(more employment in non agricultural fields):
Higher productivity per worker in agriculture is required for faster economic progress.
As Prof. D. Bhattacharya has rightly commented: “It helps to release workers for non-agricultural work whose scope greatly expands with economic progress. At the same time supply of agricultural products can be maintained to meet the requirements of workers working outside agriculture. The process of industrialization in India depends to a very large extent on the increased productivity of the workers in agriculture.”
Having more to offer:
Having more to market because of the huge hoard of strobe outcome the farmers would have increased quantum of marketable surplus rather than an individual farmer. It is said, “the quantum of marketable surplus generated from the agricultural sector is an important determinant of a country’s material progress.” But policies and plans have failed in India in this case since ages.
Ease for the administrator:
This farming is advantageous to the government .The smaller the number of agricultural farms the easier it is for the government to collect taxes, distribute subsidies and, generally, introduce better agricultural practices and mechanization.
More money to invest(more credit):
Although there has been visible change in micro financing large forms always attract financing institutions more than smaller ones. Without sufficient credit it is not possible to derive advantages of farming in a commercial way.
CHALLENGES IN COOPERATIVE FARMING IN INDIA
Some member-farmers seem to work less vigorously because they’ll get the same amount of profit in proportion of the land owned anyway.
Farmers with political agendas and caste affiliations and other such personal interest seeking personnel don’t allow the cooperation smoothly.
Farmers are afraid of record making .
Taxation is another fear for farmers.
Most of the farmers still use traditional methods of farming.
Lack of ambition among farmers resist them from equipping with modern technology or earning more .
The grant from the state government cannot be accessed as a collective because the government officials are reluctant to release such a huge amount of money in favor of farmers. If at all, the government decided to give farmers of the state a nominal sum of subsidy, the officials involved from the government indulge in corruption for smooth channelization of funds from the government treasury to the farmer’s beneficiary account.
Even though they get a huge load of production , market availability and transportation would emerge as a basic problem.
Older farmers are resistant to change while youngsters are not interested in farming these days.
CONCLUSION
Prof. D. Bhattacharya comments: “The chances of genuine co-operation among India’s peasantry, however, are so small at present that large-scale expansion of co-operative farming is unlikely to take place in the near future.”
When we come to the bare ground we see that there is a need of proper training to farmers in cooperative methods. This method is likely to be accepted by the targeted farmers (small and marginal) only if it penetrates into the system in a systematic way with proper plans, policies ,financing, subsidies or so. The indications that we get from the market preferences or the mind set of farmers now a days in the current situation cooperative system of farming among the Indian people is very unlikely to be adopted.
A proper plan with proper implementation while taking various factors in mind, utilising various tools of agricultural extension, educating rural people and clearly demonstrating the superiority of cooperative farming over the present small-scale peasant farming practices might change the scene.
References:
•Agricultural Economics by Subba Reddy,P Raghuram , T.V.N. Sastry, I. Bhawani Devi
•An Introduction to Social Sciences by Subhash Chandra, Suresh Kumar , K.C. Bairwa
Banana (Order: Zingiberales; Family: Musaceae; Genus: Musa) is an important tropical and sub-tropical fruit crop grown all over the world. India is the largest producer and consumer of banana globally, producing about 30.46 million tons in the year of 2019 (FAOSTAT, 2021), contributing about 23% of world production. India is the largest producer of banana and the major producing states are Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Banana is commonly known as Kela in Indian sub-continent and regionally as Vazhappazham in Kerala, Vazhakkai in Tamil Nadu, Aratipandu in Andhra Pradesh, Kola in Bengali and Kol in Assam.
Banana is a large perennial monocotyledonous herbaceous plant having height up to 9 m with a long pseudostem that arises from the underground rhizomes (Ghag & Ganapathi, 2018). The leaves are oval, elongated and dark green in colour with each plant producing a single inflorescence. The fruits are oblong and fleshy with very small black seeds (Imam & Akter, 2011). All parts of plantain plants namely fruits, leaves, pseudostem, rhizomes and inflorescence are useful. Thus, it is known as a ‘Kalpataru’ in India, which is a Sanskrit term meaning ‘wish granting tree’ (Ghag & Ganapathi, 2018).
The plant is traditionally used as a medicinal herb. The leaves serve as a wrap for cooking, wrapping and serving food in certain traditions. Pseudostem and inflorescence are ingredients in many traditional cuisines. Rhizomes and the outer layer of pseudostem are utilized as animal feed. The fruit part is most commonly used either as raw fruit or in desserts, breakfast dishes when it is ripened. Unripe fruits are used commonly in curries, fried chips etc. The banana fruit, peel, and banana pseudo-stem from various species of banana have been reported to be rich in total carbohydrates, fibre and minerals specially potassium.
The cultivation of plantain is mainly carried out for fruits and the other parts such as leaves, inflorescence, pseudostem, peels and rhizomes are practically wasted. However, currently they have gained the status of valuable by-products generated from banana cultivation (Padam et al., 2014). It is estimated that, for each ton of banana fruit harvested, approximately 4 tons of biomass wastes including rotten fruit, leaves, pseudostem, rhizome and fruit bunch stem are produced (Subagyo & Chafidz, 2018). That is, in a hectare, on an average about 60 to 80 tons is of pseudostem alone. Conventionally, there are a few constraints in utilizing them, for instance pseudostem and inflorescence are considered as a vegetable in certain cultures, but the acceptance is very limited when compared to other leafy vegetables due to discoloration and taste. The surface of the banana pseudo-stem is easily subjected to browning after harvest, which will affect the sensory evaluation and economic value of the banana pseudo-stem made products. Other than the medicinal and culinary uses of banana, recent researches identified plantain and its parts as a great source of phytochemicals (Reddy & Hemachandran, 2014). Several applications of the banana pseudo stem in functional food and nutraceutical industries have been explored.
Pic.1#Cross section of Pesudostem. The part of the plant that looks like a trunk is actually a false stem, called pseudostem. It is formed by the imbrication of the leaf sheaths.
Banana Pseudostem
Banana Pseudo-stem (BPS) constitute a major part of plant biomass, which are wasted usually left in the plantation or incinerated. BPS is a rich source of fiber, total carbohydrate and cellulose (Saravanan et al., 2011). Pseudostem is the part of plantain plant, which is formed by tight overlapping of leaf stalk one over another with a center having tender core in a cylindrical shape. Plantain stem is a low cost agricultural waste, which can be altered into certain value added products in the current scenario.
Banana Pseudostem Applications
At present, the banana pseudo-stem are dumped on road side or burnt which causes environmental pollution. The usage of agricultural wastes contributes to the concept of green technology and hence paves the way towards sustainable development. Moreover it is an additional income for both small scale farmers and processing industries (Padam et al., 2014).
Natural fibre
Pic.2# Natural fiber extracted from pesudostem of Banana
Some researchers have successfully demonstrated the use of banana pseudo-stem and leaves for extraction of fibers on a small scale. The pseudostem fiber is used for making several value added products namely rope, cordage, fishing net, mat, packaging material, paper sheets, textile fabrics, bag, table cloth, handicrafts, absorbent, polymer/fibre composites etc. (Subagyo & Chafidz, 2018). The fiber is extracted by using a decorticator machine then retting and degumming processes are done.
Fuel
Bio-ethanol can be produced from banana pseudostem by fermentation process. Similarly, through banana waste methane can also be produced using anaerobic fermentation.
Substrate for edible
Banana pseudo stem can be utilized as a good substrate for edible mushrooms because of its high cellulose content.
Heavy metal and dye
Studies reported that banana pseudostem can be powerful absorbers of mercury and lead. Similarly it is also reported that banana pseudostem adsorbed methyl red in aqueous solution.
Organic manure
Banana pseudostem outer peels are used as organic manure for banana plantations itself.
Organic farming
Pic.3 #Banana pseudostem used as based for growing veggies.
Since banana pseudostem is having a good water retention capacity it can be used in organic farming. It can be done through digging small holes in the banana stem with the help of a sharp object like a knife. Add a little soil and feel free to plant as required.
Others
Pseudo-stem can be used in pulp and paper industries due to its cellulosic content. The banana pseudostem fiber can also be used for ropes such as marine rope since this fibre has good resistance to sea water and has buoyancy properties.
Banana pseudostem: Food applications
The banana central core finds use in south Indian cuisine. The tender core in the centre of the banana pseudostem is edible. In southern part of India, pseudo stem is cooked both as gravy and stir fry seasoned with ginger, garlic, chillies, shallots with curry leaves and grated coconut. In Assam, a dish called kolposola is prepared from young banana pseudostem. Some commonly prepared dishes using banana pseudostem and their recipes are Stir fry, curry, soup, stew, thor ghonto, and stem bajji.
Pic.4#Pseudostem bajji
Recently, value added innovative products from banana pseudostem are developed from Central Food Technological Research Institute, Karnataka. Apart from this, the high value products viz., mordant from sap, microcrystalline cellulose powder from fiber and edible products like candy from central core can also obtained (Desai et al., 2016). Stem juice can be prepared with or without addition of other juices like lemon or grape and sugar or jaggery (Kumar & Reddy, 2015; Ravi et al., 2011).
Extensive studies are undergone to explore various possibilities of value addition of banana pseudostem. Banana pseudostem can be dried into powder and can be utilized for carbohydrate and mineral fortification in different bakery products like bread, biscuits, cookies and dairy products like shrikhand, paneer and cheese (Thorat & Bobade, 2018).
Health benefits of Banana pseudostem
Banana stem is a rich source of fibre and helps in weight loss (Chandrasekaran, 2012).
Rich in potassium and vitamin B6.
It helps to control obesity.
It is said to be a diuretic and helps detoxify the body.
It can be used as a source of starch, pectin, cellulose, natural dye, bio generation of flavours and nutrients like dietary fibre, carbohydrates and minerals (Padam et al., 2014).
It has less glycemic index and high dietary fibre and antioxidant content which is good for diabetes (Bhaskar et al., 2011).
In southern India, it is consumed as fresh juice to prevent kidney stones (Dawn et al., 2016).
Banana pseudo-stem powder is a well-known remedy for urinary disorders, stomach troubles like diarrhoea, dysentery and flatulence.
The food products which are fortified by banana pseudo-stem powder served as nutraceutical food and these show nutritional improvement as well as prove as medicine.
It is known to be nutritionally superior and associated with several health benefits.
Recently researchers are more focused on identification, quantification and isolation of different bioactive components present in the pseudostem which have potential nutraceutical applications. Few are listed in Table 1.
Variety/Species
Study/ Bioactivity
REFERENCES
Musa spp. (8 cultivars)
Invitro Anti-oxidant activity
Saravanan & Aradhya, 2011
Musa sapientum Linn.
Invivo Anti-diabetic and Anti-lipedemic activity
Dikshit et al., 2012
Musa parasidiaca Linn.
Invitro Anti-oxidant activity
Joyetal., 2016
Musa acuminata
Invitro Anticancer activity
Nindiaetal., 2019
Musa spp. (10 cultivars)
Antimicrobial activity
Jouneghani et al., 2020
Table 1: Studies showing potential nutraceutical activities of banana pseudostem
Banana stem extracts
Banana stem extracts having potential hypoglycemic properties are traditionally used as anti-diabetic agents. A comparative study among various plant parts of plantain plant for hypoglycemic effect showed that the banana stem juice extract exhibited highest anti-diabetic activity than other plant parts as fruit, rhizome and peels (Reddy & Hemachandran, 2014).
Conclusion
Banana pseudo-stem is a by-product of banana plant which has a potential for providing profitable products. Banana pseudostem is an agro waste in plantain cultivation. So there is a great possibility of utilizing banana pseudo-stem in the food processing and other industries thereby providing an additional income for both small scale and large scale farmers. In India, the fibers are being used for preparing handicrafts, ropes etc., which otherwise can be used for making fabrics, home furnishings and good quality papers. The presence of various bioactive components in the pseudostem enhances the nutritional quality but also the therapeutic values of the products. So it will be a great opportunity for researchers in future. At the same time, the problem of waste management can also be solved and provides a new scope for the efficient utilization of banana pseudostem. And the farmers will get benefitted directly and it will contribute to our national economy.
References
Dikshit, P., Shukla, K., Tyagi, M. K., Garg, P., Gambhir, J. K., & Shukla, R. (2012). Antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic effects of the stem of Musa sapientum Linn. in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Journal of Diabetes, 4(4), 378–385. https:// doi.org/10.1111/j.17530407.2012.00198.x
Dong, N., Alena, N., Klára, S., Jiří, H., Huong, P., Jitka, V., Milena, S., Jana, H., & Tomáš, R. (2017). Antidiabetic compounds in stem juice from babana grown in natural and greenhouse. Czech Journal of Food Sciences, 35(No. 5), 407–413. https://doi. org/10.17221/172/2017-cjfs FAO (2021). http://www.fao. org/3/t0308e/T0308E03.htm, Accessed on March 10, 2021 FAOSTAT. (2019). http://www. fao.org/faostat/en/, Accessed on March 10, 2021.
Thorat, R.L. and Bobade, H.P. (2018). Utilization of banana pseudo-stem in food applications. Internat. J. Agric. Engg., 11(Sp. Issue):86-89, DOI: 10.15740/HAS/IJAE/ 11.Sp. Issue/86-89.
Ravi et al., “A review on composition and properties of banana fibers” Cellulose 60: 65, 2015.
Subagyo, A., Chafidz, A. (2018). Banana pseudo-stem fiber: preparation, characteristics and applications. IntechOpen.
Author Details:
Gadha Sreekumar
Ph. D Research Scholar, Department of Vegetable Science,
Horticulture College and Research Institute,
Tamil Nadu Agriculture University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
Email@gadharajee@gmail.com
The part of the plant that looks like a trunk is actually a false stem, called pseudostem. It is formed by the imbrication of the leaf sheaths.
Pic.1# Original carving on different fruits and vegetables done by Mr. Sai Teja on a horticulture exhibition in the year 2015.
Fruit carving is the art of sculpting fruit, a very common technique in Europe and Asian countries, and particularly popular in Thailand, China and Japan. Carving art on the fruits and vegetables has become the sign of attraction for the guests attending the parties. There are many fruits that can be used in this process; the most popular one that artists use are watermelons, papayas, muskmelons, pineapples etc.
Regardless of its origins, vegetable carving is flaunted in many different Asian restaurants, cruises, hotels, and other various places. In the mid-20th century, the art of vegetable carving began to grow outside Asia. Since then, other cultures have slowly come to appreciate the beauty and culture associated with the practice. Today, one can marvel at vegetable carving throughout the world.
Pic.2#Carving on different fruits and vegetable done by Mr.Sai Teja.
Irrespective of the occasion and place, fruit and vegetable carvings find a prominence. They are not easy to make and are a testimony to the skills and talents of the artisans carving it. In most cases, these specialized artisans have taken formal training from culinary institutes and this gives them a hold on the basic techniques. The rest is up to their imagination and practice.
Artisans carve fruits and vegetables about three hours before the event starts and they leave it in cold water for the carvings to set. The tools they need to carve include cutting board, small and medium sized knives with sharp edges, a sharp peeler with preferably an oval edge, bells pins, tooth picks and dry sticks used to represent the stem of flowers. With these tools, the artisan is all set to run his or her imagination wild and come up with a variety of flowers, baskets, insects, birds, animals, toys and just about anything that is appropriate for the occasion.
Pic.3# A typical art of a boat carved out of a single piece of Pumpkin by Mr. Sai Teja
Other than restaurants, one can see carvings done by artisans in all major food festivals today. In some cultures, fruit and vegetable carvings are displayed in formal gatherings and in private parties. In India, for example, one can see fruit and vegetable carvings displayed in many wedding halls just before guests enter the dining area. The idea behind such display is not only to show the skills of the artisans, but also to entice guests to enter the dining hall. Some chefs believe that a visual display of food triggers taste buds and helps guests to better relish their food. For these reasons, it is common to find different carvings on the entrance of dining halls in Indian weddings.
Present scope and future prospects of carving fruits and vegetables
The demand for fruit and vegetable carving is increasing day by day as the people are looking towards alternatives that are livelier and more attractive to decorate in the functions. The abundance of fruits and vegetables throughout the year even in the off-season has been achieved due to advanced horticultural techniques which overcome the problem of non-availability of raw materials for carving. There are very less artisans who are experienced in this art and there is lot of scope in training through workshops and symposiums.
pic.4# A beautiful design of Rose flowers in a Pot carved out from a single piece of Watermelon by Mr. Sai Teja
Once fruit carvers have mastered the techniques past the intermediate stage and become professionals, they can price their services to restaurants, professional caterers, hotels and resorts. On a smaller scale, fruit carvers can present a dish with decorative garnishing to add an aesthetically pleasing experience to their viewers. Rural women, self-help groups, FPO(Farmer Producer Organizations) can be trained with the art of fruit and vegetable carvings to propagate the skill in this field which helps them to generate income as an association. Several food carving competitions are being held across the world which brings the artists great reputation and opportunities to work with some of the biggest events, restaurants and ceremonies. The art of carving fruits and vegetables is eternal and has a never-ending demand. In short, when you see a carved fruit or vegetables the next time, spend a few minutes to admire its beauty and intricacy. It will not only give you a glimpse into the culture, but will also make the artisan happy.
pic.5# A beautiful peacock design carved out of a single piece of watermelon by Mr.Sai Teja
Limitations
The major obstacles of fruits and vegetable carvings include the lack of quality raw materials, pattern designers, transmission of knowledge and creating added value. Quality fresh fruits and vegetables are needed so that the finished carvings can be kept and displayed longer which also depends on the atmosphere and time period where the carvings will be displayed. Fruits and vegetable engravers lack experience and consistency in their art forms where there must be a consistent balance in the lines, patterns, shapes, weight, color and texture. The lack of understanding these factors result in underdeveloped carvings and development of patterns. The limited time available to prepare the carvings has limited the designs and patterns for each venue. The transmission of knowledge between artisans is still limited due to the closure and unwilling transfer of knowledge from senior artisans. The limited transfer of knowledge and skills due to competing attitudes of modern society has led to in-efficient development of fruit and vegetable carvings and lack of apprentices.
Panprom, S., Somtrakool, K., & Tidpad, P. (2013). Fruits and Vegetable Carving: Development of Carving Patterns for Banquets. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 3(9), 697.
Pic #1.Tomatoes and Capsicum stored inside Perishable Cargo Centre at Varanasi,UP.
INTRODUCTION
In India Agriculture and allied sector is the largest source of livelihoods. 70 percent of its rural households still depend primarily on agriculture for their livelihood, with 82 percent of farmers being small and marginal. The rural communities lack electricity and thus face serious problems of storage and preservation during harvesting periods, particularly, at seasons of increased yields. Huge losses can result from poor storage of fruits and vegetables. The level of losses depends on the storage structure, method of storage and the storage environment. Due to the high perishable nature about 35% of fruits and vegetables are lost their fresh forms in storage in the rural areas.
Importance of fruits and vegetables in human diet is well recognized. Man can’t live on cereals. Fruit and vegetables are essential for balance diet and good health. Nutritionists advocate 90 g of fruits and 360 g vegetable per capita per day in addition to cereals, pulse, egg etc. Fruits and vegetable are good source of vitamins and minerals without which human body cannot maintain proper health and develop resistance to disease. They also contain pectin, cellulose which stimulates intestinal activities and energy giving substances like oils, fats, and proteins. Many fruits have medical purpose. Proper food storage helps maintain food quality by retaining flavor, color, texture and nutrients, whilereducing the chance of contracting a food-borne illness.
What is the Problem:
Poor storage of fresh and processed fruits and vegetables by the rural farmers have resulted in huge losses due to lack of knowledge of useful information on the methods of preservation and storing these perishable agricultural produce. It is astonishing that the losses in fruits and vegetables have been quantified as 30-35% accounting for an economic drain of Rs 2.40 lakh crore annually.
Fruits and Vegetables Losses among the major producing state:
Rank
State
Total Loss (Rs. Crore)
1
Maharashtra
10100
2
Andhra Pradesh
5633
3
Tamil Nadu
8170
4
Gujarat
11398
5
Karnataka
7415
6
Uttar Pradesh
10312
7
Bihar
10744
8
Madhya Pradesh
5332
9
West Bengal
13657
All India
212552
#Source : ASSOCHAM Report, May,
Present status of India’s cold chain storage sector:
As per available information, there are 8186 number of cold storages with capacity of 374.25 Lakh MT is available in the country for storing perishable horticulture produce like fruits and vegetables. In their report on cold storage infrastructure in India, Emerson Climate Technologies estimate that in 2012, 6300 cold storage facilities were installed in India with a total space of 30.11 million metric tons. The report further notes that this number is required to double if current levels of food wastages are not to increase further. Also intra-country differences with regards to cold storage capacity stand out: 60%, i.e. 10.187 metric tons, of cold storage space is located in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat and Punjab alone.
Whereas the disparity between supply and demand for cold storage is at 20% in Uttar Pradesh, this gap amounts to staggering 97% in Tamil Nadu, where in 2010 merely 0.0239 million metric tons of cold storage had been installed. The National Horticulture Board estimates that investments in the dimension of about INR 550.74 billion till 2015/16 are required to keep up with growing vegetable and fruit production of vegetables. Currently, 95% of total cold storage capacity in India is in the hand of private players. Due to the ubiquitous lack of cold storage, small-scale farmers are eager to sell their produce as close as possible after the time of harvest since the market value of vegetables decreases by 25% to 40% daily. A report by the World bank states that 10% of this loss occurs in farmer’s markets driving down prices in times of excess supply and in the worst case leads to price crashes resulting in prices that do neither cover production, harvesting or transportation cost.
Perishable Cargo Centre by ITC : A gift to the rural farmers of India
The Perishable Cargo Centre initiative by ITC for availing cold storage facility is a wonderful gift for farmers who can store their extra produce and can sell any time when they get good prices for their commodity. By the help of cold storage farmers can avoid the losses and get higher net return by selling their produce in the market .
Advantage of Perishable Cargo Centre : Storage of fresh vegetables
Fresh leafy vegetables can be kept fresh in storage for 4-6 days when sprinkled with water and covered with polythene sheet. In cool weather, the root of the fresh leafy vegetables were cut off and washed off with clean water. Test conducted with fresh tomatoes reveals that the system could store tomatoes for 25 days at average temperature and relative humidity between 14-20°C and 82-98% respectively. The cooling efficiency achieved with the storage system ranges between 93-98% and a temperature drop of 8oC below ambient was achieved.
How Farmer’s are getting higher return through availing the benifit from Perishable Cargo Centre
A flower grower from Varanasi named as Sri Amit Singh Patel(50) who used to grow marigold he stored his flowers for 1 week in diwali and sold his flowers on diwali date. Normally he was selling his one garland of marigold in 7-8 rupees. But on diwali day he sold the same garland in 25-30 rupees and earned upto 17 rupees extra on an average. In another case one more farmer who stored his pea in cold store when it was 10 Rs /kg which was the price before one week where as after one week he was able to sold the same pea at 17 Rs / kg.
Conclusion:
Our farmers of different parts of India mostly produce specific kinds of vegetables in bulk at shot time and mostly suffers from its distress sell due to lack of storage facility. From the above case studies it was found that the Perishable Cargo Centre by ITC is helping our farmers by solving the major issue of preventing the distress sell .
