NIT-Tiruchy, IIFPT plan joint facility to minimise post-harvest losses

The purpose of the workshop was to disseminate the technical upliftment opportunities available in order to avoid post-harvest losses to the farmers. The team has developed a 2TR prototype solar-assisted cold storage system with DST Sponsorship.

The workshop was intended to address the design, operational and control aspects of prototype PCM based PSCS system. The main aim of PSCS system is to replicate a mobile multi-commodity cold storage system to store different fruits and vegetables and reduce post-harvest losses specifically from the farmer’s field to the cold storage facility.

The PSCS system consisting of two cold rooms and a chiller unit kept in between the cold rooms. In this system, the shelf life of fruits and vegetables can be increased by maintaining the temperature and humidity of the fruits and vegetables on the recommended range of standards. The uniqueness of the project is using the Low Melting Temperature Phase Change Material (PCM) to store and circulate in the cold storage rooms instead of direct evaporation of refrigerant.

Dr Mini Shaji Thomas, Director, NIT-T addressed the gathering and mentioned the endeavour to bring the farmers problem to the forefront. She reminded the Institute tagline ‘locally relevant and globally competitive’ and insisted on the impact of education and exposing and sensitising students towards agricultural problems. She congratulated the investigators for taking up such an interdisciplinary project and its outreach towards the benefit of the society.

In the address, professor Ajeethan mentioned that it was high time to bring the infrastructure and its benefits in agriculture and pass on to thefarmers.

He mentioned that the project is more helpful in completing the cold chain of the commodity until it reaches the consumers and helps in doubling the farmer’s income by minimising post-harvest losses.

The workshop consisted of sessions briefing on the necessity of cold storage, its benefits incorporating solar and PCM, suggestions of its usage for the minimising post-harvest losses with a demonstration of the prototype. The workshop was well attended by farmers, agriculturalist, technocrats from industries, retailers, students, faculties and research scholars.

Dr N Sivakumaran, the event coordinator and one of the Investigator of the project welcomed the gathering and mentioned the validated facility available and its usefulness to the farmer fraternity.