This book is an essential resource for anyone involved in the agricultural sector, from farmers to food technologists. The book deals with fundamental concepts, challenges, and importance of post-harvest technology, setting the stage for understanding how to maximize the value and shelf life of agricultural produce. It delves into the post-harvest physiology of crops, providing insights into the processes of maturity, ripening, and senescence, which are critical for maintaining quality and nutritional value. Handling and transport of agricultural produce are covered comprehensively, with a focus on minimizing physical damage and loss. Techniques for crop cleaning and grading are discussed in detail, highlighting their role in enhancing quality and market value. The book also examines various storage systems and facilities, emphasizing the importance of preserving crop quality and safety over time. A dedicated chapter on post-harvest losses identifies their causes and impacts, offering strategic solutions for mitigation. Advanced storage techniques, such as controlled atmosphere storage, are explored to optimize conditions for long-term preservation. The book addresses traditional and modern drying and dehydration techniques, essential for the preservation of agricultural commodities. Cold chain management is another critical area covered, with strategies for maintaining product quality and extending shelf life. Specific chapters focus on the unique challenges and innovations in postharvest technology for grain and horticultural crops, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of different agricultural contexts. Innovation is a key theme throughout the book, with discussions on value addition through food processing, highlighting the potential for product development and market diversification. The emergence of new technologies, including automation, robotics, and the Internet of Things (IoT), is examined for their transformative impact on post-harvest handling. The book concludes with crucial insights into packaging and labelling, ensuring marketability and consumer information, and emphasizes the importance of quality control and food safety standards and regulations in post-harvest processes.
Dr. Sivala Kumar is presently working as a Dean and Professor in the Department of Agricultural Engineering, School of Agricultural and Bio-Engineering, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Paralakhemundi, Odisha, from July 2019. Prior to this he has worked in Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University at Bapatla (AP) Retired as an Associate Dean of Dr NTR College of Food Science and Technology. He has worked as an Associate Professor, Professor and Senior Professor. He has worked as a University Head in the area of Food Processing. He has publications in reputed International and National journals, attended several International and National Seminars and conferences. He is a life member of Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers (ISAE). Under his guidance six M.Tech. and Three Ph.D. degrees were awarded. He has worked in the areas of mechanical expression of rice bran oil, development of process technologies for Instant rice, aging of rice, extruded sorghum products and corn oil extraction. He has a total experience of 39 years in Teaching and Research. Meanwhile he has also worked as Head of Post Harvest Technology Center, Bapatla under AICRP on Post Harvest Technology. Earlier, he has worked at IIT, Kharagpur in ACRIP on Post-harvest Technology as a research officer.
Mr. Syed Mazhar Ali is working as an Assistant Professor in the Agriculture Research station, Pavagada, Tumkur district under University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India. He is currently pursuing Ph.D. in the Department of processing and food engineering, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur. He has over 18 years of experience in teaching, research, extension, academics and administration. His research interests include postharvest technology, drying of foods, beverage processing, and design and development of agriculture and processing implements/machinery. He has also worked as Principle Investigator (PI) and Co-PI in some of the Institute projects and also had exposure visits to many Institutes. He has attended many International, National seminars/conferences, Faculty/ Capacity development Programme and Training programmes. He has authored several research papers published in reputed national and international journals of the country, book chapters, popular articles and other extension publications.
Dr. Ambrish Ganachari, is an Assistant Professor of Processing and Food Engineering at the Zonal Agricultural Research Station, Kalaburagi under the University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur, Karnataka, India. He has obtained his Ph.D. in Processing and Food Engineering from UAS, Raichur. With over 14 years of experience in teaching, research, academic administration, and industry, his research interests include design and development of processing machinery, drying of foods, fortification of foods, and packaging. He has received various awards from national and international societies and is a member of various professional organizations. He has been awarded an international fellowship for a training programme on Food systems for healthy and sustainable diets. He has led more than 15 research projects as Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) sponsored by various funding agencies on a competitive mode. In addition, he has authored several research papers and book chapters published in national and international journals. He also serves as a reviewer for various leading international food research journals.
Dr. Santosh D.T. working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Agricultural Engineering, School of Agriculture and Bio-Engineering, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Odisha. He has earned his Ph.D. in December 2019 from the Agricultural and Food Engineering Department at IIT, Kharagpur under the supervision of Professor K. N. Tiwari. He has worked as a Research Associate at Precision Farming Development Centre, IIT, Kharagpur for a decade (2010- 2020), which was funded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. His area of research is micro-irrigation, greenhouse technology, protected cultivation techniques, and hydroponics. He has a number of publications in National and International peer-reviewed journals. Additionally, he has four years of industrial experience as a marketing professional at TAFE Tractor, GEA Farm Technologies, and HDFC Bank.
1 Introduction to Agricultural Post-Harvest Technology ............................ 1
2 Post-Harvest Physiology: Understanding Crop Maturity, Ripening, and Senescence ...................................................................... 19
3 Handling and Transport of Agricultural Produce ................................... 35
4 Crop Cleaning and Grading: Enhancing Quality and Market Value ...... 47
5 Storage Systems and Facilities: Preserving Crop Quality and Safety.... 57
6 Post-Harvest Losses: Causes, Impacts, and Mitigation Strategies......... 79
7 Controlled Atmosphere Storage ............................................................. 97
8 Drying and Dehydration Techniques: Preservation of Agricultural Commodities.................................................................... 111
9 Cold Chain Management: Maintaining Product Quality and Extending Shelf Life...................................................................... 133
10 Post-Harvest Technology for Grain Crops........................................... 155
11 Post-Harvest Technology for Horticultural Crops................................ 169
12 Value Addition through Food Processing: Innovation and Product Development........................................................................... 177
13 Emerging Technologies in Agricultural Post-Harvest Handling .......... 189
14 Packaging and Labelling of Agricultural Products............................... 199
15 Quality Control and Food Safety in Post-Harvest Handling: Standards and Regulations ................................................................... 209