PHDEC webinar addresses peach post-harvest techniques

KARACHI: The Pakistan Horticulture Development & Export Company (PHDEC) hosted an insightful webinar titled ‘Post-Harvest Techniques for Peaches: Ensuring Freshness from Orchard to Market’ on June 27.

The event focused on tackling critical issues surrounding post-harvest losses in the peach sector, offering stakeholders the latest technologies and best practices to maintain peach quality and extend shelf life.

Peaches, cultivated across approximately 15,000 hectares in Baluchistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Punjab, yield about 150,000 tons annually. Despite their high production, post-harvest losses in Pakistan can escalate to alarming levels, reaching up to 35 per cent. This vulnerability stems from the fruit’s perishable nature and challenges in handling, storage, and transportation.

Dr Muhammad Zahid Rashid, from the Horticulture Research Institute, AARI Faisalabad, delivered a comprehensive presentation during the webinar. He shared advanced insights into harvest and post-harvest management techniques tailored for peaches, emphasizing the adoption of modern technologies to minimize losses and enhance fruit quality.

The webinar highlighted the urgent necessity for implementing advanced post-harvest management practices to mitigate losses and maintain peach quality throughout the supply chain. PHDEC reiterated its commitment to supporting the horticulture sector through educational initiatives, workshops, and pilot projects focused on enhancing post-harvest techniques.

Participants, including growers, exporters, processors, and R&D experts, actively engaged in the webinar, lauding the initiative and expressing keen interest in applying the newfound knowledge to bolster Pakistan’s peach industry.