Processing and Value Addition of Vegetable Crops: Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

Presently, one of the major global challenges is to ensure food security to the ever-growing population whilst ensuring the sustainable development. According to FAO, 70% increase in food production is needed to make the food available to the world population which will reach 9 billion by 2050. Huge amounts of food are lost every year worldwide due post-harvest damages caused due to physical factors (mechanical injuries), physiological factors (Wilting, shriveling, chilling injury) or some pathological factor(decay due to fungi or bacteria). These causes in many instances are interrelated i.e. mechanical injury may promote the chances of post-harvest decay in most of the cases. Post-harvest losses are approximately 20-50% in developing countries and 10-15% in developed countries. Vegetables are the most important supplement to human diet as they provide the essential minerals, vitamins and fibre required for a balanced diet. India’s climatic and soil condition provide an excellent platform for the cultivation of a wider variety of vegetables.