OUR HISTORY

The Institute is controlled by Governing Council, of which the Hon’ble Minister for Marketing,Maharashtra State and Chairman, Maharashtra State Agricultural  Board, Pune is the President. The Managing Director, MSAMB, is the Secretary of the Institute

Horticultural produce plays a significant role in human nutrition by supplying vitamins, minerals, dietary fibre and anti-oxidants to the diet. The quality and safety of horticultural produce reaching the consumer hinges upon pre-harvest factors as well as proper post harvest management practices throughout the chain, from the field to the consumer. Each stakeholder along the post-harvest chain- i.e. those involved in harvesting, handling and marketing of fresh produce- has a role to play in assuring the safety and quality of fresh produce. Basic approaches to maintaining the safety and quality of horticultural produce are the same, regardless of the market to which this produce is targeted. This document reviews the factors which contribute to quality and safety deterioration of horticultural produce, and describes approaches to assuring the maintenance of quality and safety throughout the post-harvest chain. Specific examples are given to illustrate the economic implications of investing in and applying proper post-harvest technologies. Post harvest management determines food quality and safety, competitiveness in the market, and the profits earned by producers. The postharvest management of fruit and vegetables in most developing countries in the region is, however, far from satisfactory. The major constraints include inefficient handling and transportation; poor technologies for storage, processing, and packaging; involvement of too many diverse actors; and poor infrastructure.

The key aim of the Institute is to take relevant agricultural research from lab to land. The chief object is to develop core competence in ‘Lab to Land’ activities in agriculture in general and in agricultural marketing in particular. To achieve these goals the organization is committed to the following:.

1) Research & Development to escort the technologies from the national and international institutes, other organisations with respect to post harvest technology but especially for product processes, machinery and packaging and compile and compare them in order to assess their merits and demerits and find the best one which could be made available to farmers /growers, market committees, co-operatives and private organisations (prospective entrepreneurs)
2) To make available the adequate number of professionals in the area of agricultural marketing management and post harvest technology management, for which purpose organize diplomas and degree programs in these areas
3) To act as nodal agency at the State/ National level in the area of post harvest technologies of food and feed crops and to promote agro-food processing industries
4) To offer Scientists /Researchers /Farmers & others facilities for commercial trials of their laboratory /research /field findings
5) To understand current requirements of post harvest services and provide feed-back to research organisations by organising specific programs with farmers & their organisations
6) To promote agricultural enterprises by taking all necessary steps /actions
7) As a commitment to an integrated approach to the agriculture as industry, carry extension activities /programs relating to pre-production stages
8) To take up any activity supplementary /complementary to these main objects.