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The MSAMB is promoting the development of infrastructural facilities and
amenities for agricultural marketing viz. setting up of cold chain, collection
centers and promotion of post harvest technologies among farmers etc. It has
come to the notice of MSAMB that lack of proper post harvet management practice
at farm level and beyond is a bottleneck in the development of an efficient
marketing system and the farmer loose out in terms of price for their produce.
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Hence to provide proper training and development of manpower skills in post
harvest technology the MSAMB has established a full fledged Post Harvest
Technological Institute registered as a Non Government Organisation (NGO) under
the Society Act of 1860 on 10.12.98 and as a Trust under the Trust Act of 1950
on 12.1.99.
The Institute is controlled by Governing Council, of which the Hon'ble Minister
for Marketing, Maharashtra State and Chairman, Maharashtra State Agricultural
Marketing Board, Pune is the President. The Managing Director, MSAMB, is the
Secretary of the Institute.
The key aim of the Institute is to take relevant agricultural research from lab
to land. The chief object is to develop core competence in 'Lab to Land'
activities in agriculture in general and in agricultural marketing in
particular. To achieve these goals the organisation is committed to the
following:
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Research & Development to escort the technologies from the national and
international institutes, other organisations with respect to post harvest
technology but especially for product processes, machinery and packaging and
compile and compare them in order to assess their merits and demerits and find
the best one which could be made available to farmers /growers, market
committees, co-operatives and private organisations (prospective entrepreneurs)
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To make available the adequate number of professionals in the
area of agricultural marketing management and post harvest technology
management, for which purpose organise diplomas and degree programs in these
areas
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Field-testing, evaluation, pilot plant studies, techno-economic
feasibility studies and industrial liaison on laboratory proven technologies
for all agricultural products.
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To act as nodal agency at the State/ National level in the area
of post harvest technologies of food and feed crops and to promote agro-food
processing industries
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To offer Scientists /Researchers /Farmers & others
facilities for commercial trials of their laboratory /research /field findings
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To understand current requirements of post harvest services and
provide feed-back to research organisations by organising specific programs
with farmers & their organisations
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To promote agricultural enterprises by taking all necessary
steps /actions
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As a commitment to an integrated approach to the agriculture as
industry, carry extension activities /programs relating to pre-production
stages
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To take up any activity supplementary /complementary to these
main objects.
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Some highlights of works so far :
Advise and Training :Advise to farmers in modern techniques of
cultivation, post harvest technology, training to employees of Regulated
Markets in grading and quality control aspects and advise to farmer exporters
in export quality production, systematic production, harvesting, handling,
packaging, pre-cooling, cold storage, transportation and export marketing.
The NIPHT has received help and cooperation from APEDA, NIAM and
others in the past.
Training in High-Tech Floriculture or Poly house technolgoy for farmers and
entrepreneurs with collaboration with IPC, Holland.
Publications :
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Published a "Hand Book on Agrotech Developments" in the year
1996.
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Published leaflets regarding package of practices for farmers.
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Produced Video /Audio material for export purposes.
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Published booklet on organic farming, Good Agricultural
Practices(GAP)
Jaggery Production Modernisation : The NIPHT has carried out
research and development work to help farmer in manufacturing quality Jaggery,
which is free of chemicals and of better shelf life. The NIPHT had arranged
demonstrations at selected cane crushing units. The preparation of Jaggery,
free from chemicals, has also been carried out in semi-commercial scale in
Kolhapur District, in association with farmers & the APMC Kolhapur.
Survey of Minor Fruits, Short Stem and Cut Flowers :
The NIPHT has carried out research and development work to help farmer
manufacture quality Jaggery free of chemicals with better shelf life. The NIPHT
has arranged demonstrations at selected cane crushing units. The preparation of
Jaggery free from chemicals has also been carried out in semi-commercial scale
in Kolhapur District in association with of farmers & the APMC Kolhapur.
Seminars /Conferences :
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A national conference on "Onion Storage" was organised in September 1998.About
90 scientists, farmers and entrepreneurs were participated.
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District level Seminars on Commercial Farming were conducted in eight
districts.
Survey of Marketable Surplus and Post Harvest Losses of Food
Grains : A Survey of 12 grain commodities in the State of
Maharashtra was carried out with help from Ministry of Rural Development GoI.
Standardization of Pre and Post Harvest Technology for Banana :
For export of banana (var. Basrai) by sea, the pre and post harvest
technologies have been standardised by NIPHT. In this the scientists from MPKV,
Rahuri, helped with activities related to banana production. Appropriate post
harvest practices were implemented while exporting. And one container of Banana
was sent to Dubai with satisfactory results.
Trial exports of mango through CA Container :Trial
shipment of mangoes from the selected orchards from Aurangabad area was
successfully carried out. The pre-harvest care was taken under the guidance of
scientists from MAU with post harvest handling guidance from CFTRI and NIPHT.
The trials with Kesar, Alphanso, Vanraj and Rajapuri varieties of mangoes were
successful.
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Infrastructure
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The institute is set up on a 40 acre of farm land, about 40 km
from Pune, at Talegaon Dabhade, on Pune-Mumbai road. Enough water resources are
available. A portion of farmland is under drip irrigation. Various vegetable
crops are cultivated for demonstration.
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The NIPHT has its own building with research laboratory,
lecture halls, and plans to develop a library, pilot plant, temperature
management facilities and model grading, packaging facilities. The required
laboratory equipment, few pilot plant machinery and controlled atmospheric
cabinets have been procured.
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Six polyhouses,one Glass house, one polyshadehouse and three
shadehouse each having 575 sq.m. area have been established with the grant in
aid from Holland Government for research and demonstration purposes.
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Two sweet water ponds for inland fishery trials are available.
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Taken over the responsibility from the MSAMB to manage day to
day operations of Horticulture Training Center(HTC)- an international standard
training center in Polyhouse technology or protected cultivation with technical
and financial support from Holland, which has started its operation since 6
October 2003.
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Well eqipped soil and water testing laboratory.
Update :
NIPHT received fund for market
led extention activities from the Director of Marketing & Inspection,GOI.
