Postharvest management has a tremendous impact on quality of the vegetables and the income received for them. Harvested vegetables are still living; they respire, age and can spoil easily without appropriate postharvest treatments. Postharvest losses of 9-25% of production are common. These costs are borne by farmers as reduced farm gate prices and by consumers as increased purchase prices. This is why WorldVeg has been promoting and offering training on postharvest management technology and practices.

From November 21-25, 2022, WorldVeg- ESEA organized the 39^th International Vegetable Training Course: Post-harvest management for fruit and vegetables at its Research and Training Station, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.

The training course was attended by 19 participants with diverse background from 11 countries, with funding support from African-Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO) and MOFA-Taiwan for 8 AARDO member countries (Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Pakistan, and Sudan),

GIZ-Somalia, Department of Agriculture and Agri- Brunei Darussalam and Plant Seeds (Pvt) Limited-Sri Lanka.

This program which was a combination of class lectures and hands-on exercises was conducted in English by experts from Kasetsart University, Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University (INMU), and WorldVeg. The trainees were equipped with vital knowledge about how to reduce contamination of fruit and vegetables with pathogens and pesticides. It began with the introduction to postharvest and postharvest losses and biological change, respiration, ethylene, humidity, and ripening. They also learned about quality and standard controls, packaging, package design, and materials as well as cooling and storage.

In addition, the participants were trained on the food and nutrition security, food processing, and nutritional quality of fruits and vegetables, key bioactive compounds in fruits and vegetables and how to maximize the bioavailability of nutrients. On the last day, they visited The Royal Project Foundation and Si Mummuang wholesale market in Phathum Thani Province which is not only Thailand’s, but also ASEAN’s largest wholesale market for vegetables to learn about their success stories.

Assoc. Prof. Anuchai Pinyopummin, DVM, Ph.D. Kasetsart University’s Vice President for Kamphaeng Saen Campus, opened the IVTC.

Delphine Larrousse, Regional Director of WorldVeg- ESEA, welcomed the participants.

Asst. Prof. Dr. Wachiraya Imsabai, Kasetsart University, trained the participants.

Dr. Pepijn Schreinemachers. Flagship Program Leader for Enabling Impact (front row, second from right), joined the group at Si Mummueng wholesale market.