Participants of the Workshop
International Tropical Fruits Network (TFNet), the Seed Wing of Ministry of Agriculture, Bangladesh and Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, jointly organized a Workshop on Increasing Income Of Tropical Fruit Among Smallholders Through Quality Improvement, Post Harvest Management And Processing at the Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh on 11-12th February 2012.
A total of 42 participants from Bangladesh Agriculture University (BAU), Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI), Department of Agriculture Extension Education (DAE), Pakistan Agriculture Research Centre, and progressive farmers attended the workshop. Speakers and resource persons were from Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, and TFNet. Observers from Pakistan and Sri Lanka also graced the workshop.
The workshop focused on formulating a strategy to improve the production technology and the postharvest handling and processing of tropical fruits for growers and traders, while accounting for constraints and deficiencies that are prevalent along the value chain.
The objectives of the workshop were to:
- Provide an overview on the current trends and developments in the tropical fruit industry;
- Assess and affirm issues and challenges of the tropical fruit scenario in Bangladesh;
- Provide information on the importance of cooperative and farmers group involvement in overcoming constraints along the tropical fruit value chain;
- Strengthen the capacity of participants on addressing quality assurance, post harvest losses, food safety, SPS, and Good Agricultural Practices in the marketing of tropical fruits;
- Develop a strategy and action plan to enhance the quality and marketing of tropical fruits by smallholders in Bangladesh, which includes the exploration of various pre- and postharvest management and processing improvements.
Participants were later divided into 2 groups to deliberate on issues related to:
- Reducing post harvest losses to improve quality and marketability of tropical fruits, focusing on mango;
- Processing of tropical fruits to enhance utilization, add value, and increase income of farmers, with a special focus on jackfruit.
The plans provide steps to reduce post harvest losses and improve the quality and marketability of tropical fruits. Special focus was given to the minimal processing of jack fruit and postharvest treatment for the quality improvement of mango. The workshop also emphasized that product under-pricing can be alleviated by including the farmers in the decision making process, especially during price setting. This task is a major challenge to the extension staff of the Bangladesh Department of Agriculture and other non-governmental organizations involved in the transformation process.
On the last day of the workshop, participants joined a field visit to a tropical fruit germplasm collection centre in the Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. This centre is the largest germplasm depository of fruits, medicinal plants, and agroforestry samples in Bangladesh. This centre has more than 200 varieties of mango, 40 varieties of guava, 25 varieties of litchi, 48 varieties of citrus, 94 accession of jackfruit, 67 species of minor fruits, 31 species of exotic fruits collected from more than 20 countries.
Organizers and distinguished guests at the opening of the workshop
Resource person from India, Dr. Sisir Mitra, delivers his presentation
Group 1
Group 2