27 October 2026, Pakyong, Sikkim
A team of scientists from the All India Coordinated Research Project on Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology (AICRP–PEASEM), along with senior officials from ICAR, visited ICAR–National Research Centre for Orchids, Pakyong, Sikkim, today to explore engineering-based solutions to key challenges in orchid cultivation, post-harvest management and value addition.
The team comprised Dr K. Narsaiah, Assistant Director General (PE), ICAR; Dr. Nachiket Kotwaliwale, Director, ICAR–Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology (CIPHET); and Dr Pitam Chandra, Director, ICAR–Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering (CIAE), along with scientists from AICRP–PEASEM.
Accompanied by scientists from ICAR-NRCO, the team visited the Centre’s laboratory and polyhouse facilities, followed by detailed discussions on technological interventions to improve orchid production, quality and post-harvest handling.
The deliberations focused on developing environment-management systems for Phalaenopsis orchids to mitigate chilling injury during winter, specialised tools for orchid cultivation, including spike straighteners for producing erect Cymbidium spikes for cut flowers, and telescopic orchid collection tools. Discussions also covered small-scale potting-media mixing and filling units, low-cost miniature microclimate-controlled primary-hardening chambers for tissue-cultured orchids, and the use of biochar in orchid growing media.
Post-harvest management and value addition featured prominently in the discussions, with emphasis on biodegradable packaging materials, packaging boxes and machinery for orchid cut flowers, and lightweight, portable substrates for orchid cultivation. Other proposed research areas included drying techniques to retain the shape and colour of orchid flowers, development of value-added orchid products, vision-based flower grading, shelf-life prediction and extraction of high-value compounds from different plant parts.
The visit culminated in deliberations on a forward-looking research roadmap to address engineering and technological constraints in orchid cultivation through an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach. The proposed interventions are expected to guide future research towards improved cultivation practices, enhanced flower quality, efficient post-harvest management and greater value addition in the orchid sector.
(Source: ICAR-National Research Centre on Orchids, Sikkim)
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