Report on training of trainers on handling postharvest losses of selected fruits in season - watermelons, oranges and pineapples on 18th & 19th November at Gloriaka hotel, Winneba

Abstract

The Modernizing Agriculture in Ghana (MAG) Project is geared towards impact measurement and capacity building across the districts and regions of Ghana. As part of the project, a workshop was organized by the Central region RELC in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Food Research Institute on training of trainers on reducing postharvest losses of some selected fruits (watermelon, pineapple and oranges) in season. The workshop was done to empower local institutions through capacity building with the adoption of new technologies within the agriculture sector on handling postharvest losses of some fruits in Ghana. This was held at Gloriaka Hotel at Winneba in the Central Region on the 18th to 19th November, 2019. A total of forty- eight (48) participants comprising mainly extension officers and few processors. Twenty-three (23) participants were males and twenty-five (25) were females. The welcome address was given by Mr. Hope Kumah, District Director of DOFA, Winneba, who re-enforced the commitment of District of Food and Agriculture (DOFA) and Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in improving productivity and income through the adoption of appropriate post-harvest technologies within the agriculture sector. He explained the need for field officers to be equipped with the requisite knowledge and skills to effectively train farmers in the agriculture sector across the districts and regions of Ghana. The overall objective of the workshop was to train field officers on how to properly handle post-harvest losses of some selected fruits in season. Specifically, key concepts of postharvest management of fruits were defined, techniques involved in fruit juice processing were established and participants were equipped to transfer acquired skills and knowledge to farmers. The topics covered were: Basics of food processing, Importance of Food Preservation, Processing of fruit juice, Food safety and Food packaging. Hands-on training and practical sessions were adapted to involve all participants of the workshop. The expectations of the participants and facilitators of the workshop include the following; understand basic principles of food processing, importance of food preservation, be equipped with techniques and principles of processing of fruit juices, understand and apply the basic principles of food safety and be equipped with techniques of food packaging. Dr. Charlotte Oduro-Yeboah, the CSIR-FRI MAG focal person took the participants through the basics of food processing. Lectures on food preservation, food safety and packaging were delivered by Mr. Papa Toah Akonor shortly after the first presentation. The second day’s activity was chiefly centred on practical demonstration on fruit juice processing. Participants were given the opportunity to ask questions on all topics discussed and also to evaluate the whole training programme. These questions and concerns were duly addressed by facilitators and organizers respectively. The workshop was officially brought to an end with a closing remark by the Central Regional Director of MOFA