Global perspective for postharvest training

AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center and the Asian Food and Agriculture Cooperation Initiative (AFACI) in collaboration with the Rural Development Administration (RDA) of Korea and Thailand’s Department of Agriculture successfully organized the first “International training workshop on postharvest management technology for horticultural crops” from 8 to 19 June 2015 in Thailand.

Twenty-two participants from 11 AFACI member countries (Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam) attended the workshop, which covered sessions on postharvest losses, biology, seed technology and nutrition; pack house operations, packaging and storage; postharvest handling systems; quality evaluation, disorders and processing; and industry practice.

Observing okra sorting at Chanchawan Company.

Observing okra sorting at Chanchawan Company.

Surmsuk Salakpetch, Deputy Director General, Department of Agriculture, Thailand, Jackie Hughes, AVRDC Deputy Director General Research, and Kwon Do Ha, AFACI Deputy Secretary General, welcomed the participants. Ji Gang Kim, Director, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science and a representative of RDA, gave the opening address on behalf of AFACI. Fenton Beed, Regional Director, AVRDC East and Southeast Asia gave an overview of the Center’s programs and activities in the region. Andreas Ebert, AVRDC Genebank Manager, set out the objectives, processes and activities for the workshop.

Participants attended expert lectures, engaged in discussions and practical exercises, and visited facilities implementing good agricultural and manufacturing practices in production, quality assurance, postharvest management and marketing in Chiang Mai, Lampun, Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom and Samut Sakhorn. Experts sharing their knowledge and expertise from AVRDC included Shriniwas Gautam, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist; Andreas Ebert; Ray-yu Yang, Nutritionist; and Yoonpyo Hong and Jun Acedo, Postharvest Specialists. From the Horticulture Innovation Lab at Kasetsart University, Jingtair Siriphanich, Head of the Postharvest Technology Center, and postharvest experts Teeranud Romphopak, Kietsuda Luangwilai, Wachiraya Imsabai and Apita Bunsiri provided insight and guidance. Panida Boonyarittthongchai and Apiradee Uthairatanakij from the Postharvest Technology Division of King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Ji Gang Kim, RDA Processing Expert, and Amara Chinaphuti and Bussara Chankaewmanee from DOA also presented valuable perspectives on postharvest issues.

An exercise on postharvest quality evaluation.

An exercise on postharvest quality evaluation.

Participants presented the postharvest situation in their countries, highlighting the contribution of fruit and vegetables to the agricultural economy; postharvest practices, problems and losses; and causes and interventions to reduce losses and increase market advantage of smallholders. Based on the knowledge gained in the workshop, the participants successfully presented country action plans with strategies to improve postharvest practices along the value chain.

The Postharvest Working Group Asia was formed during the course. This network will serve as a platform for experts and participants to continue sharing knowledge, information, practices, learning and updates on the progress of various country initiatives.

A Postharvest Working Group forms for Asian countries to share expertise and learning opportunities at home, with neighboring countries, and around the world.