Postharvest technology and research in Pakistan to alleviate food security concerns

Pakistan’s estimated inhabitants are above 187 million, making it the world's sixth most populous country and rising at the rate of 1.8%, advances countless disquiets. Massive and growing population cause frequently increasing demand for food, extending the issues of food security. Food is lost or wasted throughout the supply chain, from preliminary agricultural production down to final household consumption. In developing countries commodities to a substantial extent are wasted at growing, harvesting and consumption stage. With rise in global population to over nine billion by 2050, the necessity for improved strategic food accessibility is vital. Declining the post-harvest losses can offer a fetching opportunity. Post-harvest losses include poor harvesting & handling, lack of storage infrastructure, low market prices, and restricted access to markets because of disorganized supply chains. Food loss is a global problem that needs to be addressed to secure food for hungry people. Development of appropriate post-harvest management plus adequate storage should be given high priority in Pakistan. Approaches for mitigating postharvest losses in Pakistan includes: application of innovative technologies to improve the handling systems of horticultural perishables (harvesting, packaging and cold chain maintenance), assure their quality and safety and improvement of storage infrastructure.