INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION, POSTHARVEST MANAGEMENT AND TRADE OF MINOR TROPICAL FRUITS (2009)

International Tropical Fruits Network (TFNet) in collaboration with Bioversity International, Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) and Department of Agriculture Malaysia organized the ‘International Seminar on Recent Developments in the Production, Postharvest Management and Trade of Minor Tropical Fruits’ in Kuala Lumpur on 18 – 19 August 2009. The seminar which featured 19 speakers from Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam, was attended by 150 participants, from government agencies, research institutions, universities and the private sector. The main objective of the seminar was to enlighten participants with the latest developments on current research and development on minor tropical fruits, which have the potential to be further expanded in their consumption and export. Minor tropical fruits are those that are commercially produced but less traded in the global market and they include mangosteen, rambutan, durian, pitaya and pummelo. Besides this, the seminar also aimed to assess the current market potential and consumption of such fruits, in accordance to the theme of the seminar ‘Important minor tropical fruits for the global market’.

The seminar was officially opened by the Malaysian Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry, the Honourable Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim. The 2 day seminar saw the presentation and discussion of topics which ranged from the technical aspects of production, processed products, marketing and export of minor tropical fruits.