Category: Webinars

8th of August, 2023, PHDEC hosted a captivating webinar centered around the crucial theme of “Harvest and Post-Harvest Management of Dates.” The primary goal of this insightful webinar was to unite stakeholders from all corners to engage in a comprehensive discourse on the intricacies of date harvesting and post-harvest handling. The ultimate aim? To minimize those pesky post-harvest losses and enhance the availability of top-notch quality dates in both domestic and high-end international markets. As you may know, the date harvesting season is currently underway and set to continue until the end of September but did you know that dates are exceptionally sensitive and responsive to how they’re handled? Mishandling and malpractices during harvesting and post-harvest phases can have a substantial impact on the final product. Recognizing the delicate nature of this process and the pivotal role it plays in ensuring superior quality and yields, PHDEC orchestrated this enlightening webinar. The event was crafted to provide valuable insights to date farmers, growers, and key farm workers who play a pivotal role in this industry. The response was overwhelming! Participants poured in from various sectors including growers, processors, exporters, R&D, and academia.

Today (25th July, 2023), PHDEC conducted the webinar on the topic of “Value-added Products of Banana.” The aim of the webinar was to discuss and enlighten the growers/farmers/processors on the value-addition of banana and the impact of value-addition on the economy by enhancing exports.  Dr. Ahmad Din, Assistant Professor from the Department of Food Science and Technology University of Agriculture, Faisalabad gave a detailed presentation on nutritional composition, production hubs of banana in Pakistan, therapeutic properties of banana, limitations for banana cultivation and processing in Pakistan, value-addition of banana globally and potential value-added products of banana in Pakistan.  A large number of growers/farmers particularly from Sindh, R&D, entrepreneurs and academia participated in the webinar and valued the PHDEC’s initiative.

PHDEC (Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Company) successfully conducted a highly informative webinar on the topic of “Value-added products of Potato.” 🥔The main objective of this webinar was to share valuable insights into the development of value-added potato products. We had the pleasure of hosting a diverse audience comprising processors, progressive growers, R&D professionals, and private companies from all across Pakistan. 🇵🇰The distinguished guest speakers made this webinar truly enlightening. Dr. Syed Ijaz Ul Hassan, Chief Scientist from the esteemed Potato Research Institute in Sahiwal, took us through the entire potato value chain. He elaborated on the vast scope of value-addition, discussed the quality characteristics of potatoes for processing, and shared invaluable knowledge about various value-added potato products.Furthermore, we had the honor of hearing from Ch. Maqsood Ahmad Jatt, Vice President of Potato Growers Co-op Society in Okara. He highlighted the importance of establishing agro-processing training institutes, the need for small food processing plants at the district level, and the encouragement of direct marketing of products by our dedicated farmers.We were delighted to witness a tremendous turnout at the webinar, with active participation from numerous processors, progressive growers, R&D experts, private companies, and academia. The engagement and enthusiasm displayed by the attendees truly showcased their appreciation for PHDEC’s initiative in organizing this event.

Todays webinar discussed olive production, prospects and challenges in Pakistan at length. Pakistan, which has a large area of land suitable for growing olives, has been producing olive oil since 2010 with the help of countries such as Italy and Spain. Currently, it produces about 1,500 tons of olive oil and 830 tons of table olives per year, all of which are consumed domestically. Pakistan has set a target of producing 16,000 tons of olive oil by 2027. The main areas fit for olive cultivation in Pakistan are Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and Punjab. Pakistan has 10m acres of land suitable for olive cultivation, which is almost twice as much as Spain, the world’s largest olive oil producer. Keeping in view its importance there is a dire need to intervene on the matter.A large number of participants from growers, processors, exporters, R&D and academia participated in the webinar and appreciated the PHDEC’s initiative of conducting the webinar on an important topic of olive Production and challenges.

In Pakistan, grapes are cultivated on 15,300 hectares with an annual production of around 88,000 tons whereas the Import tally reaches a staggering 100,800 tons. As per the data released by MNFSR Pakistan spends a whooping Rs. 11 billion on imports of Grapes per year. Majority of the grape cultivation in Pakistan is done in Quetta and Kalat areas of Balochistan province. Some of the varieties being cultivated in Pakistan give an average yield of 4 to 6 tons thus saving valuable foreign exchange. Experts from local Agriculture Department enlightened the audience on recommended Good Agriculture Practices of Grapes. A large number of participants from growers, processors, exporters, R&D and academia participated in the webinar.

The aim of todays webinar was the sensitization of relevant stakeholders on tomato production and prospects of tomato value-addition in Pakistan. Value-added products of tomato include pulp, juice, paste, puree, ketchup and soups. Postharvest loss is a major challenge hampering tomato production in most developing countries. Tomato being a perishable crop as a result of its high moisture content has a short shelf life of about 48 hours under tropical conditions. The speaker educated the participants on techniques to enhance the shelf-life of tomatoes which include pre-cooling, cleaning or disinfection, sorting & grading, and packaging.

(15th June, 2023), PHDEC conducted the webinar on the topic of ‘Harvest & post-harvest handling techniques of Apple.The aim of the webinar was to bring maximum of the stakeholders on board to discuss harvesting, post harvest handling, transportation, loading, unloading, & storages issues of apple to minimize the post harvest losses and availability of premium quality apple in domestic and high-end-market. The apple fruit is more sensitive and responsive towards mishandling and malpractices of harvesting and packaging. Keeping in view the sensitivity of the product and the importance of harvesting and handling for good quality and yield, PHDEC chose this time frame to educate the apple farmers/growers, key farm workers on the subject. The experts from the local agriculture department enlightened the small holders of apple on recommended harvesting, postharvest handling, and packing techniques.A large number of participants from growers, processors, exporters, R&D and academia participated in the webinar and appreciated the PHDEC’s initiative of conducting the webinar on an important topic of post-harvest management. Participants suggested that organizing physical activities would be more fruitful for stakeholders.

Today (13th June, 2023), PHDEC conducted the webinar on the topic of “Opportunities for Economic Growth Through Value Addition of Date Fruit.” The aim of the webinar was to discuss and enlighten the growers/farmers/processors on the value-addition of date and the impact of value-addition on the economy by enhancing exports as Pakistan is the 5th largest date-producing country. Dr. Ahmad Din, Assistant Professor from the Department of Food Science and Technology University of Agriculture, Faisalabad gave a detailed presentation on Limitations for date palm cultivation and processing in Pakistan, value-addition of dates globally, value-added products like date paste, date halwa & date syrup, potential of value-addition, therapeutic properties of dates, regular monitoring and pesticide treatment, usage of drip irrigation in drought areas and affordable facilities based on advanced technologies etc. A large number of current and potential growers/farmers, R&D, entrepreneurs and academia participated in the webinar and valued the PHDEC’s initiative.

The aim of this webinar was to discuss and enlighten farmers on ginger cultivation and its economic viability in our local environment. Pakistan imports approximately 81,000 Metric Tons of ginger annually amounting to 112 Million USD.Mr. Amir Latif, Scientific Officer from Vegetable Research Institute, Ayub Agriculture Research Institute, Faisalabad sensitized the participants on soil, planting material, irrigation & nutrition management, quality of pesticides/chemicals etc.Furthermore, the participants were updated on recent developments wherein the first ever ginger variety “AARI GINGER 2023” was registered by Punjab Seed Council in March 2023. The session concluded with a Q&A segment.A large number of current and potential farmers, R&D, entrepreneurs and academia participated in the webinar.

(06 Jun, 2023), PHDEC conducted the webinar on the topic of “Value-added products of Onion”.The purpose of the webinar was to share the possible interventions for development of value-added products of onion. Target audiences of the webinar were processors, progressive growers, R&D and entrepreneurs from all over the country.Expert from Department of Horticulture, Sindh Agriculture University, Tando Jam, explained the scope & importance of value-added products of onion and suitable local verities for value-addition. The conclusion was made with strategies and plans for onion value-added products.Expert from Post-Harvest Research Centre, AARI, Faisalabad, stated that Post-harvest loss is a major challenge hampering onion production in most developing countries. He explained the complete process to develop the onion paste, flakes and powder from raw produce.A large number of processors, progressive growers, R&D, private companies and academia participated in the webinar and valued the PHDEC’s initiative.