Central Institute of Post Harvest Engineering and Technology
(CIPHET)



INTRODUCTION

Established in 1989 at Ludhiana and 1993 at Abohar (Punjab), Central Institute of Post Harvest Engineering and Technology (CIPHET) is a nodal institute for lead researches in the area of post harvest engineering and technology appropriate to the agricultural production catchments, agro-processing industries, pilot plants, industrial liaison, technology transfer and national and international cooperation to meet national needs.

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MANDATE

  • To undertake basic, applied and adaptive engineering and technology research in post harvest sector of cereals, pulses, oilseeds, fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices, plantation crops, products of forest origin, livestock and aquaculture products including agricultural structures and environmental control.
  • To act as national institute for research, training, and education in post harvest engineering and technology.
  • To act as repository of information on post harvest engineering and technology.
  • To transfer technology and provide advisory and consultancy services.

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ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

A. Research Divisions

(at Ludhiana)

  1. Food Grains and Oilseeds Processing
  2. Agricultural Structures and Environmental Control
  3. Transfer of Technology
  4. Livestock and Aquacultural Produce Processing

(at Abohar)

  1. Horticultural Crops Processing
  2. Commercial Crops Processing

Besides above research divisions, a Krishi Vigyan Kendra at Abohar conducts field level demonstrations on improved farm technologies, training farmers including women and rural unemployed youth. The training programmes also include processing of cereals, pulses oilseeds, fruits and vegetables.

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B. All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRPs)

  • AICRP on Post Harvest Technology

Started in 1972, the Project is operating at 18 centres (three new centres approved during IX plan) spread all over the country. The Project, while addressing location specific post harvest technological problems also conducts multi-location trials of developed technologies for assessment, adoption and refinement. About 100 need based technologies have been developed under the Project.

  • AICRP on Application of Plastics in Agriculture

Started in 1988, the Project has 5 centres. Many improved technologies have been developed for the use of speciality plastics for surface covered cultivation (greenhouses, low tunnels and mulches) and FRP tanks for fish rearing.

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MAJOR RESEARCH PROGRAMMES

  • Development of technology for packaging and storage for reduction in post harvest losses of fruits and vegetables.
  • Development of technology for value added products from fruits, vegetables and food grains.
  • Development of machines/equipment such as groundnut pod grader, evaporative cooler, colour sorter, lac scrapper and fruit grader.
  • Design development and evaluation of structures for covered crop cultivation of high value crops for varied agro-climatic zones.
  • Survey of agro industries, to evaluate the technological status and associated problems.
  • Studies on post harvest management of fruits and vegetables.
  • Adaptive trials on agro-processing centres.

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TECHNOLOGIES DEVELOPED

Major achievements of the Institute under developmental programmes and research projects are listed below:

  • Lac Scrapping and Grading Machine: Developed in collaboration with ILRI, Ranchi, the machine has a capacity of 20 kg/h. It is operated by 1.5 kW electric motor, requires two persons to operate. Costs about Rs.25,000.
  • Fruit Grader: It grades kinnow and other round shaped fruits in six sizes. Has a capacity of 1 t/h, requires 1.5 kW electric motor, 3-4 persons to operate and costs about Rs.35,000. Available commercially.
  • Low Cost Poly Houses: For raising nursery, flowers and high value vegetables specifically in winters, low cost poly houses have been developed. Bamboo poles and splits and UV stabilized LDPE film are used in construction. Structures of 13 x 4.5 x 1.7 m size cost about Rs. 5,000.
  • Groundnut Pod Grader:It grades on the basis of size and weight of pod. Capacity 1 t/h. Requires 3.5 kW electric motor and 3-4 workers. Of the 9 grades obtained, best could be used for table purposes and rest for oil expelling. Costs about Rs. 70,000.
  • Other Technologies: These include solar vegetable dehydrator, grinder for tough agricultural materials, storage structures for garlic and kinnow collecting device.

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HUMAN RESOURCES

The Institute trains scientific manpower in a number of disciplines such as Agricultural Structures and Process Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Microbiology, Horticulture, Plant Pathology, Agronomy, Agricultural Economics, and Foods and Nutrition.

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FACILITIES AVAILABLE

The newly established Institute has a highly qualified scientific and technical manpower. It has a modern Food Science and Technology Laboratory for food products analysis and a workshop for prototype fabrication. Besides these, an agro- processing centre at Abohar is functioning and another at Ludhiana is being established for transfer of technology. Low cost poly houses at Ludhiana and Abohar are available for off-season high value crops cultivation.

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CONSULTANCY AND TRAINING

The Institute conducts training and consultancy activities for farmers, rural unemployed youth, farm women, scientists / teachers of SAUs and developing countries. The expert services are available for consultancy in the fields of processing of food grains, oil seeds, pulses, fruits, vegetables and greenhouses.

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DIRECTOR
Central Institute of Post Harvest Engineering and Technology
Post Office: P.A.U Campus,Ludhiana-141 004, Punjab, India
Tel: 91-161-808669 to 808673, Fax: 91-161-808670
Click here to send mail

Incharge
Central Institute of Post Harvest Engineering and Technology
Malout - Hanumangarh By Pass, Abohar - 152 116, Punjab, India
Tel: 91-1634-24024, 25313(O) Fax: 91-1634-25313
Click here to send mail to Abohar Campus

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