Safriz
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Pakistan: Prolonging shelf life of fruits Pakistan produces over 14 million tonnes of fruits and vegetables of
which almost one-third is wasted and never reaches the consumer.
High post-harvest losses not only lower incomes of producers and
traders, but also reduce the quantity available in local market as well
as for export. Despite large production, our fresh produce exports are
negligible (three per cent) and also fetch lower prices in international markets. So far Pakistani exporters have not been able to penetrate
into high end supermarket chains, which account for about 80 per cent
of the fruits and vegetables sales in the EU and other developed
countries. Mango export earns about $24 million annually and around
60-70 per cent of good quality varieties is exported to the Middle East
and 15-16 per cent to Europe. The export of fresh produce, particularly mango is limited by enormous
cost of air freight as compared to sea freight. The interest in sea
freighting of mangoes is growing and probably it is the only
commercially viable option for export to distant places in the future.
However, it needs extended time and specific protocols to be
developed for maintaining fruit quality, which is only possible using Controlled Atmosphere (CA) Technology. Mangoes from South America
are being successfully shipped to the EU using CA Technology. Looking
at the need and demand of the sector, Punjab Agricultural Research
Board (PARB) initiated a project on Exploiting Control Atmosphere
Technology potential for extended storage and shipping of fresh
produce to international markets. The project was managed by Dr Aman Ullah Malik, Professor of Horticulture, University of Agriculture
Faisalabad (UAF) to increase shelf life of fresh vegetables and fruits for
the export to distant markets.
The project was executed with collaboration of National Institute of
Food Science and Technology (NIFS&T), Plant Pathology department of
UAF and METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan.The specific problems addressed were: optimum CA-conditions for different fruits and vegetables;
extension of shelf life and maintenance of quality of mangoes and
facilitating sea-freighting for reducing cost of shipment to high end
markets. Chief Executive PARB Dr Mubarik Ali says the successful
establishment of the SOP for CA technology for fresh produce would
greatly benefit exporters in future. It will generate a good return of money invested on research, enhance our exports and create sound
recognition for Pakistani fresh products in international markets.
The overall results on mango varieties suggest that storability and
marketability of mango can be improved through appropriate use of
CA technology. This has created potential for long distance shipments
(up to four weeks) followed by 5-6 days of shelf life. Chilies performed better under CA conditions with storability up to two weeks followed
by two days shelf life. The technology did not achieve much success in
case of kinnow due to sensitivity of the fruit; however, alternatives
such as initial pre-cooling, wax and proper ventilation can increase its
shelf life. Effect of CA conditions on apple varieties can also enhance the
storability of Kala Kulu and Shin Kulu up to nine months followed by two weeks of shelf life at ambient conditions.
A recent success story linked with the project is that a commercial CA
shipment of Sindhri mango using the SOPs developed under this
project was sent to Netherlands. General remarks about shipment were
very good; fruit was firm green, attractive in appearance and
developed good taste. There was complete control on disease and importer was interested to buy large volumes of mangoes the
following year. The successful arrival of the shipment after 36 days (29
days in transit and seven days on shelf) was a great breakthrough in
the mango export industry. Just one 40-feet container of mangoes
saved Rs2 million in freight charges, compared to the same quantity
delivered by air, said Dr.Amanullah Malik, the project manager. He emphasised that investing Rs20 million in the project to develop SOPs
will induce many more containers to be exported to distant
destinations.
Dr Amanullah said the usefulness of this project has been
demonstrated by arranging seminars, trainings, workshops, meetings
and visits for the local growers/ store keepers/ cold store operators/ traders and exporters. Another remarkable achievement is publication
of two research papers in the 7th International Post-harvest
Symposium in Malaysia. A modern Controlled Atmosphere R & D
infrastructure has been developed at Institute of Horticultural Sciences
to meet the long-term national needs.
Source: dawn.com Publication date: 10/30/2012 1
which almost one-third is wasted and never reaches the consumer.
High post-harvest losses not only lower incomes of producers and
traders, but also reduce the quantity available in local market as well
as for export. Despite large production, our fresh produce exports are
negligible (three per cent) and also fetch lower prices in international markets. So far Pakistani exporters have not been able to penetrate
into high end supermarket chains, which account for about 80 per cent
of the fruits and vegetables sales in the EU and other developed
countries. Mango export earns about $24 million annually and around
60-70 per cent of good quality varieties is exported to the Middle East
and 15-16 per cent to Europe. The export of fresh produce, particularly mango is limited by enormous
cost of air freight as compared to sea freight. The interest in sea
freighting of mangoes is growing and probably it is the only
commercially viable option for export to distant places in the future.
However, it needs extended time and specific protocols to be
developed for maintaining fruit quality, which is only possible using Controlled Atmosphere (CA) Technology. Mangoes from South America
are being successfully shipped to the EU using CA Technology. Looking
at the need and demand of the sector, Punjab Agricultural Research
Board (PARB) initiated a project on Exploiting Control Atmosphere
Technology potential for extended storage and shipping of fresh
produce to international markets. The project was managed by Dr Aman Ullah Malik, Professor of Horticulture, University of Agriculture
Faisalabad (UAF) to increase shelf life of fresh vegetables and fruits for
the export to distant markets.
The project was executed with collaboration of National Institute of
Food Science and Technology (NIFS&T), Plant Pathology department of
UAF and METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan.The specific problems addressed were: optimum CA-conditions for different fruits and vegetables;
extension of shelf life and maintenance of quality of mangoes and
facilitating sea-freighting for reducing cost of shipment to high end
markets. Chief Executive PARB Dr Mubarik Ali says the successful
establishment of the SOP for CA technology for fresh produce would
greatly benefit exporters in future. It will generate a good return of money invested on research, enhance our exports and create sound
recognition for Pakistani fresh products in international markets.
The overall results on mango varieties suggest that storability and
marketability of mango can be improved through appropriate use of
CA technology. This has created potential for long distance shipments
(up to four weeks) followed by 5-6 days of shelf life. Chilies performed better under CA conditions with storability up to two weeks followed
by two days shelf life. The technology did not achieve much success in
case of kinnow due to sensitivity of the fruit; however, alternatives
such as initial pre-cooling, wax and proper ventilation can increase its
shelf life. Effect of CA conditions on apple varieties can also enhance the
storability of Kala Kulu and Shin Kulu up to nine months followed by two weeks of shelf life at ambient conditions.
A recent success story linked with the project is that a commercial CA
shipment of Sindhri mango using the SOPs developed under this
project was sent to Netherlands. General remarks about shipment were
very good; fruit was firm green, attractive in appearance and
developed good taste. There was complete control on disease and importer was interested to buy large volumes of mangoes the
following year. The successful arrival of the shipment after 36 days (29
days in transit and seven days on shelf) was a great breakthrough in
the mango export industry. Just one 40-feet container of mangoes
saved Rs2 million in freight charges, compared to the same quantity
delivered by air, said Dr.Amanullah Malik, the project manager. He emphasised that investing Rs20 million in the project to develop SOPs
will induce many more containers to be exported to distant
destinations.
Dr Amanullah said the usefulness of this project has been
demonstrated by arranging seminars, trainings, workshops, meetings
and visits for the local growers/ store keepers/ cold store operators/ traders and exporters. Another remarkable achievement is publication
of two research papers in the 7th International Post-harvest
Symposium in Malaysia. A modern Controlled Atmosphere R & D
infrastructure has been developed at Institute of Horticultural Sciences
to meet the long-term national needs.
Source: dawn.com Publication date: 10/30/2012 1
