In a path-breaking move to transform horticultural practices, the Haryana Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Birmingham, UK, to set up a first-of-its-kind Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Crop Post-Harvest Management and Cold Chain for horticulture crops. This state-of-the-art complex, to be established in Panchkula, Haryana, aims at solving the crying problem of post-harvest losses while retaining the quality and freshness of horticultural products as they go from farm to consumer.

The MoU was signed formally during a ceremony with Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini and Haryana’s Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Sh. Shyam Singh Rana. On behalf of the Haryana Government, the MoU was signed by Additional Chief Secretary of the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, Sh. Raja Shekhar Vundru, while Prof. Robin Mason, Pro-Vice Chancellor (International), represented the University of Birmingham. The partnership is viewed as a key move towards making Haryana’s agricultural sector more efficient and sustainable, especially its fast-growing fresh fruit and vegetable sector.

In his speech during the signing ceremony, Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini pointed out that Haryana, which is commonly known as the “food bowl of India,” is diversifying very fast into the production of fresh fruits and vegetables. This growth, he added, requires the efficient management of the cold chain to reduce post-harvest losses in this industry. He further reaffirmed optimism that the development of the Centre of Excellence would greatly assist in the assurance of horticulture products’ quality, minimizing wastage, as well as upholding the agricultural sector in the state.

The Centre of Excellence will be a center of integral research and testing aimed at enhancing post-harvest management practices of fruits and vegetables. The unit will also be a rich source of information for CCS Haryana Agricultural University (CCS HAU), Hisar, and Maharana Pratap Horticulture University, Karnal students and researchers. The students and researchers will be able to conduct advanced studies and experiments on post-harvest management and cold chain technology.

Reducing post-harvest losses is one of the major goals of the Centre by formulating clear protocols and guidelines to prevent such losses. Innovations in cold chain technology shall also be promoted by offering advanced testing facilities by the Centre, pushing development to provide an efficient cold chain system for horticultural produce. The Centre will also provide incubation assistance to technology start-ups specializing in cold chain solutions, promoting entrepreneurship in the area.

Apart from its fundamental research activities, the Centre will give special emphasis to the spread of sustainable practices through innovative research on energy-efficient cold chain technologies. Formulation of sustainable business models and creation of an integrated national framework for cold chain practices and PHM would be among the major deliverables of the Centre’s efforts. All such efforts are directed towards controlling horticultural produce wastage that is a major problem in India and the world.

The Centre will also be actively involved in training and capacity building of farmers and businesses. The Centre will provide a variety of services, ranging from training schemes, technology demonstration, and business incubation facilities for enterprises wishing to implement modern cold chain techniques. These will assist farmers and enterprises in coping with the fast-changing agricultural sector, making them competitive and sustainable in the long run.

To ease the establishment of the Centre, the Haryana Government has offered 15 acres of land near the Directorate of Horticulture, Sector 21, Panchkula. The complex will have a separate training centre, technology demonstration site, testing centre, and technology incubation centre, making it a one-stop shop for all stakeholders of the horticulture supply chain.

The partnership between the Haryana Government and the University of Birmingham is further consolidated with the presence of a consortium of pre-eminent UK and overseas universities. In addition to the University of Birmingham, universities like Heriot-Watt University, Cranfield University, and London South Bank University are lending their technical skills in the formation of the Centre. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is also actively involved in the project, offering worthwhile advice on sustainable technologies and practices.

Researchers at the University of Birmingham are leading the consortium in designing energy and cooling resilient systems, energy transitions and storage, and the social implications of these technologies. The university’s participation brings huge international experience to the Centre, making it a global center for research, development, and innovation in post-harvest management and cold chain technology.

Opening up the Centre of Excellence is intended to create a new standard of sustainable crop post-harvest handling and cold chain practices in Haryana as well as elsewhere in the nation. It should become a prime driver of preventing food loss, enhancing the horticultural farm’s profitability, and ensuring long-term sustainability in India’s farming industry.

The signing of the MoU was witnessed by a number of high-profile officials, including the Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Dr. Saket Kumar, and the Director of the Horticulture Department, Dr. Arjun Singh Saini. The fact that these officials were present highlights the significance of this collaboration in determining the future of Haryana’s agriculture sector.

This collaboration between the University of Birmingham and the Haryana Government is an important step towards meeting the needs of the state to counter post-harvest losses and cold chain inefficiencies, which has the potential to have an influence on the larger agricultural sector in India.