POST HARVEST TECHNOLOGY CENTRE

AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING COLLEGE & RESEARCH INSTITUTE

TAMILNADU AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY

COIMBATORE

Research

          The PHTC is currently collaborating with various national and international level organizations in conducting applied and problem solving research on priority areas. Multi disciplinary team of this centre is associated in carrying out the need based and solution oriented projects. Some of the key projects undertaken by the centre are reported below.

1. Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) 

A scheme on “Consolidation of Food Security in South India” is functioning in Post Harvest Technology Centre of Tamilnadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore with the financial assistance from CIDA, through McGill University , Montreal , Canada under the leadership of Dr.G.S.V.Raghavan, James McGill Professor. The scheme is sanctioned for a period of five years from 2002 to 2007.The project operates with the prime objective of reducing post harvest losses with the focus on value addition. It also aims at enhancing the livelihood security and food safety network of women and their economic empowerment. The major beneficiaries of the scheme are farmers, rural women, unemployed youth and progressive entrepreneurs. The scheme activities are focused in such a way to strengthen the food security in South India .

The important activities are as follows

1.     Strengthening and dissemination of need based post harvest technologies, value addition of agricultural commodities, processing and preservation of food products.

2.     Imparting training to women Self Help Groups (SHGs), farmers, unemployed youth, active entrepreneurs and Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs).

3.     Establishing and equipping agro processing complexes in rural areas.

4.     Improving the standard of living of rural women through various training on food processing and preservation and cost benefit analysis of processed food production.

5.     Establishing model pilot plants to promote small scale entrepreneurs.

6.     Upgradation of infrastructural facilities for action oriented research activities.

7.     Human resource development through staff exchange programme.

The scheme is being operated in the Post Harvest Technology Centre, Coimbatore and Home Science College and Research Institute, Madurai . Free trainings are being offered to women SHGs and members of NGOs with a focus on post harvest handling of fruits and vegetable processing like  squashes, jam, pickle, Ready To Serve (RTS) beverages, value added products from papaya, guava, aonla and tomato, masala powders preparation, bakery , confectionery, sugarcane juice preservation  and  investment analysis  of the projects.

          The trainings are so designed to cater to the needs of rural women, who are interested to venture into the processing unit after the training period. Trainings are organized on 10^th and 25^th of every month in Coimbatore and on 19^th in Madurai and for each training, a minimum of twenty members are selected.

2. Venture Capital Scheme (VCS)

a) Food processing business incubator

          This scheme is in operation since March, 2004.Major focus of the scheme is entrepreneurship development and new product development. The specific objectives of the programme are

·         Imparting techniques of food processing to the entrepreneurs

·         Extending the facilities of food processing pilot plant to the private entrepreneurs on custom hiring basis

·         Generating income through the sale of processed products

Thrust Areas of Training

v      Fruits and vegetable Processing

v      Tomato products manufacturing

v      RTS, squash and bottling of sugarcane juice

v      Small scale manufacturing of masala powder

Food Processing Pilot Plant on Custom Hire Basis

          Progressive entrepreneurs trained by this centre can become a member on the payment of Rs.5,000 as non refundable membership fee and can utilize the production facilities of the Pilot Plant for the commercial production of their food products for one year. They have to execute MOU (Memorandum Of Understanding) with the university and the entrepreneurs are charged based on the volume of processing.

b)Technology Transfer Training Programme (Venture Capital Scheme – FSN)

          The scheme is in operation since July, 2003 and it functions with the following objectives;

1. Imparting knowledge, skill and techniques of agro processing and allied activities to women groups and entrepreneurs
2. Transfer of technology for starting food processing industries

 Activities

          I. Imparting training to women groups and entrepreneurs

          ii. Preparation of technical reports, manuals, study materials etc.,

Thrust Areas

v      Establishment of cottage scale preservation unit

v      Establishment of cottage scale pickle production units

v      Establishment of small scale bakery unit

v      Instant food mixes

v      Home made desserts, pudding and confectionery preparation

v      Processing and preservation of aonla, mushroom and drumstick

3. GOI (Government of India )-Setting up of Food Processing Training Centre

The specific objectives of the scheme are as follows.

 a) To impart training to entrepreneurs, house wives, farm women etc. on processing of products like squashes, jam, jelly, pickle etc. on commercial scale.

 b) To expand the existing teaching and research activities on post harvest operation, processing and preservation of fruits and vegetables.

c) Novel product development for preserving under exploited fruits of Tamil Nadu such as fig, west indian cherry, aonla, wood apple, etc., which are grown generally in drought prone areas with limited water resources.

Current activities

v      Commercial production of squashes, jam etc.

v      Imparting training on fruits and vegetable preservation.

Thrust Areas of Training

          Fruit and Vegetable Preservation

4. ICAR –ADHOC – Research Scheme – Impact of Establishing Guidance and Counseling Centre for the Overall Improvement of the Life of Rural Families

The scheme functions with the following objectives.

a)  To conduct a base line survey to identify the educational, psychological, economical and social problems of the individual families and society in the villages of Madurai East and Melur panchayat unions.

b)  To analyse the reasons for the problems identified and to conduct   awareness campaigns to make the women to organize and take up income generating activities.

c)  To impart technical skills and knowledge to the women to take up income generating activities.

d)  To identify and render the need based guidance and counseling services to the beneficiaries.

e)  To evaluate the impact of the above services in solving the psycho-social problems of the rural families.

f)  To establish a co-ordination, guidance and counseling cum training centre at Home Science College and Research Institute, Madurai .

Current activities

o        Training for income generating activities and

o        Guidance and counseling for problematic families.

Thrust Areas of Training

v      Home care products like soap oil, soap powder, computer sambrani etc.,

v      Fruits and vegetables preservation jam, squash, pickle etc 

5.  GOI-Ministry of Food Processing Industries-Establishment of Small Scale Bakery Unit