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Ch. Prashanth Reddy

HYDERABAD, April 14

A SIMPLE cost-effective technology to substantially increase the shelf life of fruits and vegetables has been jointly developed by Prof P. Reddanna of the University of Hyderabad and Prof Y. Narayana Reddy of the Achraya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University here under the Andhra Pradesh-Netherlands Biotechnology Programme (APNBP).

By using the technology, according to the two agricultural scientists, hybrid tomatoes can be preserved up to 42 days while the local varieties for nine days without any damage to the vegetable. The technology has also been successful in increasing the shelf life of mangoes, grapes and custard apple. In the case of custard apple, initial experiments have shown that the shelf life of the fruit can be extended up to 14 days.

The scientists told Business Line that the technology was evolved after four years of extensive research and field studies on various anti-oxidant and polyamine treatments in regulating the biochemical pathways responsible for fruit and vegetable ripening. It was based on reduction in the production of ethylene, a hormone responsible for ripening of the fruit.

They developed a solution containing inhibitors of ethylene. After harvesting, the fruits and vegetables have to be dipped in the solution and dried subsequently to improve their shelf life.

"Initially we were using expensive polyamines for making the solutions. Now we are using pre-cursors of polyamines that are equally efficient but very cheap. Today, at the cost of just about 5 paise the shelf life of up to 2 kg of fruits can be improved. Besides, this solution can be re-used," Prof Reddanna said.

Initially, this technology was demonstrated to the farmers in the Nalgonda and Mahabubnagar districts of Andhra Pradesh where APNBP was being implemented. Now, both the scientists have come out with a project to propagate the technology on a large scale. The project, submitted to APNBP, seeks to establish demonstration centres in villages. Each centre is estimated to cost Rs 2 lakh.

To start with, it is proposed set up five such centres for imparting training to the farmers and also provide them the chemicals required for the treatment of fruits and vegetables.

According to the APNBP Chairman, Dr M.V. Rao, the technology will be a boon to resource poor farmers of the State who can derive remunerative prices for the highly perishable horticultural products. It will also help in boosting the export of fruits and vegetables from the State.

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