Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 10: Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today ordered trial of a new, patented technology from the US which doubles fruit shelf life in non-controlled room temperature.
To meet the huge challenge of maintaining quality of fruit Supplies in highly-competitive global markets, he directed Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences, Kashmir (SKUAST-K) to test the low-cost technology, which is being reportedly used for maintaining quality of 80 per cent of US apples.
“SKUAST will carry out trial experiments after working out modalities to see if our fruit growers can use this new technological intervention,” he said.
The Chief Minister gave these directions in a high-level meeting convened to discuss 1-MCP, an exposure-based technology patented and widely used in the United States.
Minister for Horticulture A R Veeri, Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Nabi Lone, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister B B Vyas were among the top officials present in the meeting.
Prof Nazir Mir, a Kashmir-born scientist working in Rutgers University, US, who has done pioneering research in 1-MCP, also attended the meeting.
Referring to the difficulties faced by fruit growers, Mufti Sayeed said the trial test by SKUAST will provide an insight into how useful 1-MCP will be in prolonging the shelf life of fruit, in particular apple.
“Before we implement this technology, we need to see its ramifications through research,” he said.
Describing the new technology as a useful proposition which provides insulation to fruit against high temperatures, the Chief Minister also emphasised upon transportation of fruit to outside markets in refrigerated vehicles.
Out of the total 16.5 lakh tonnes of apples produced in the state, only 35 per cent are high quality that can be exported. In comparison, Europe exports nearly 80 per cent of its total apple produce.
The State is targeting to transform its Rs 3,000 crore apple industry into a whopping Rs 15,000 crore business over the next five years by rejuvenating orchards by adopting high-density plantations.
Briefing the Chief Minister about the advantages of the new technology, Prof Mir said the fruit treated with 1-MCP is as good as the one taken out of Controlled Atmosphere (CA) store.
“Given the volume of production, this technology is going to be very cost-effective,” he said.
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