FRUITS FOR THE FUTURE IN ASIA First published in 2002 by International Centre for Underutilised Crops University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK © 2002 International Centre for Underutilised Crops The materials published in this book do not imply that the opinion expressed by the individual contributors regarding the legal status of any country, territory, city or its authorisation, or concerning the delimitation of its territories or boundaries are necessarily those of ICUC. The opinion expressed in this book are those of the authors and do not imply an acceptance or obligation whatsoever on the part of ICUC. This publication is an output from a research project funded by the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) for the benefit of developing countries. The views expressed are not those of DFID [R7187 Forestry Research Programme]. FRUITS FOR THE FUTURE IN ASIA Editors: N.Haq and A. Hughes ISBN: 0854327754 ICUC, Institute of Irrigation and Development Studies, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK 2 CONTENTS Preface............................................................................................................4 Preamble.........................................................................................................5 Opening address S. Singholka....................................................................................................7 Welcome address R. Smith..........................................................................................................8 Message from John Palmer, DFID-FRP.......................................................10 SECTION 1. OVERVIEW OF ICUC ACTIVITIES IN ASIA....................13 ICUC actvities in Asia N. Haq..........................................................................................................15 Fruits for the Future A.. Hughes....................................................................................................22 ICUC-UTFANET and its role in Asia M. Rondolo...................................................................................................30 SECTION 2. UPTAKE OF OUTPUTS FOR PHASE 1, FRUITS FOR THE FUTURE......................................................................................................41 Information dissemination O. Bromley...................................................................................................43 Promotion of underutilised crops N. G. Hegde..................................................................................................45 Uptake of information for education and training A. C. de Q. Pinto...........................................................................................54 Benefits of ICUC publications for research workers H. P. M. Gunasena.......................................................................................57 Managing information for knowledge systems development: the Philippines NARS experiment P. S. Faylon..................................................................................................59 Better information for better microenterprises D. Rice..........................................................................................................76 Use of information for promotion of underutilised fruit trees S. Azami........................................................................................................81 1 SECTION 3. CONSULTATION MEETING ON PROCESSING AND MARKETING OF UNDERUTILISED TROPICAL FRUIT TREES.........86 Brief context and rationale for plant domestication research P. Preechapanya..........................................................................................88 What tropical fruit will grow where – A methodology for matching perennial fruits to agroecological zones, and developing a list of potential fruits K. Chapman..................................................................................................92 Community involvement in food processing: the Ikalahan experience D. Rice..........................................................................................................93 Experience in processing and marketing of value added products in Thailand N. Muang-Thong (translated by B. Ratanachinakorn)...............................100 Marketing produce from underutilised tropicfruit trees – A case study in West Bengal, India S. D. Chatterjee..........................................................................................102 Tropical Wholefoods – fairly traded healthy foods from Uganda, Burkina Faso and Pakistan A. Brett.......................................................................................................111 Status reports on processing and marketing of underutilised fruits of Bangladesh S. Sheel and S. M. M. Hossain....................................................................118 Processing and marketing of underutilised fruits in India D. S. Rathore..............................................................................................132 Country status report on marketing and processing of underutilised tropical fruits in Indonesia M. Winarno.................................................................................................152 Status report of processing and marketing of underutilised fruits in Nepal D. B. Shakya...............................................................................................155 Processing and marketing status of fruits in Pakistan W. H. Shah..................................................................................................180 Current industry situation of underutilised fruit crops in the Philippines R. Castillo...................................................................................................189 Status report on the postharvest handling, processing and marketing of underutilised fruit crops in Sri Lanka R. S. Wilson Wijerarnam............................................................................197 Processing and marketing of underutilised fruits of Thailand S. Nanthachai.............................................................................................203 2 Status of production, processing and marketing of some underutilised tropical fruits of Vietnam T. Van Lai and C Doan Thanh...................................................................213 List of participants......................................................................................228 3 PREFACE Asian farmers cultivate a variety of fruit trees on homestead farms producing multiple products including medicine, aromatics, herbs and spices. Produce from fruit trees can generate more income than from field crops. Different fruit trees have different characteristics and uses, even in the same country. Therefore, the processing and marketing structures and comsumer requirements are different, and for many small-scale producers, they remain unknown. Small-farmers especially, encounter difficulties in marketing fresh quality produce and experience loss of quality during storage and transport. Realising the importance of fruit trees in the improvement of livelihood of poor people in the region, ICUC, with the Horticulture Research Institute of Thailand and with DFID-FRP funding organized a regional consultation meeting in Bangkok in February 2002. This book is the result of this meeting, where scientists, NGOs and small scale entrepreneurs discussed the present status on the postharverst handling, processing and marketing of UTFT (Underutilised Tropical Fruit Trees) and their products in Asia. Presentations from experts in each country on the tropical fruits highlighted the need for reseach on this valuable natural resource which not only improves the livelihoods of poor people but will maintain biodiversity and environmental sustainability. The presentations included the need for the development of a research programme on underutilized fruit trees on the post-production science and product and market development and we were delighted that the working groups of the two subregions managed to come out with detailed recommendations of research on processing and how products can be linked with market chains. The individual papers included in these proceedings have not been altered except where required for formatting. We would like to thank DFID-FRP for funding this project and for the organization of the meeting in Bangkok, which has given us an insight into each country’s present position and development and utilisation of underutilized crops in the whole region of Asia. The meeting and proceedings of the meeting were not possible without the help of the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Thailand, Mr. Somsak Singholka, DG and his staff, particularly Mr. Prasat Anuput, Director, Horticultural Research Institute, Thailand, which is a partner institution of ICUC. Lastly, we were fortunate to have the Honourable Ambassador of the UK to Thailand, Mr. Lloyd Barnaby Smith, as the Chief Guest and gave an excellent speech on the importance of these fruit trees in Asia. 4 PREAMBLE The Fruits for the Future Programme was established in 1995 with an overall goal to increase income generation, alleviate poverty and improve the livelihood of poor farmers through the promotion of underutilized tropical fruit trees (UTFTs). In trying to achieve this goal, ICUC has implemented a regional project on the propagation and technology transfer of 3 species of UTFTs through the UTFANET (Underutilised Tropical Fruit Trees in Asia Network) and a global project, ‘Fruits for the Future’, on the collation and dissemination of information on the production, harvesting, processing, utilization and marketing of UTFTs. The purpose of this meeting was threefold: • to lauch the ‘Fruits for the Future’ project publications • to assess the usefulness, uptake and impact of these publications from the point of view of the various beneficiaries present in the meeting • to discuss the status of UTFTs in the region and to produce recommendations from the stakeholders on the requirements for further activities. A record of the presentations relating to information uptake and impact and the country status reports from the Asian region are provided in these proceedings. It was apparent from the presentations of status reports by 9 countries and discussions of two working groups (South Asia and South East Asia), that technologies for post-harvest handling and processing of UTFTs for local and national markets are available at research laboratories. However these technologies are not appropriate for household processing and need to be adapted for village level processing. Furthermore information is scattered and not easily accessible by householders, small traders and entrepreneurs. In addition, the available technologies need to be evaluated and adapted for local, regional and international markets. Little information currently exists in the region about products or marketing at local, regional and international levels. It was also determined by the working groups that the needs of South Asia (Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) and South East Asia (Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam) are different as most of the countries are focused on a single crop for processing and marketing and that the crop differs from country to country. 5 The recommendations from the consultation meeting and workshop were the proposed formulation of projects as follows: • a pilot project to assemble information on post-harvest handling, processing and market chains, and to develop mechanism(s) for dissemination of this information to householders, small traders, entrepreneurs and others in the region • research projects on post-harvest handling, processing and marketing of UTFTs. 6 OPENING ADDRESS Mr. S Singholka Director General, Department of Agriculture Mr. Lloyd Barnaby Smith, British Ambassador for Her Majesty’s Government in Bangkok; Dr. R.B.Singh, Assistant Director-General of FAO; Dr. Roger Smith, Chairman of ICUC; Dr. John Palmer, DFID-FRP Manager; Distinguished Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen: First of all, I would like to convey the sincere apology of His Excellency, Mr. Shucheep Hansavard, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, for not being able to attend this meeting due to other official commitments. It is therefore my pleasure to address this Opening Ceremony on his behalf. I am delighted to meet a group of prominent scientists who recognise the importance of underutilised fruits. Asia is the centre of diversity for a large number of tropical fruits, particularly the South and Southeast Asia Region where there is a great potential for underutilised fruits in increasing farmer’s income. I would like to acknowledge the effort of the International Underutilised Crops (ICUC) in exploring the potential of underutilised fruits for food, nutrition, and increasing rural income. Nevertheless, the Underutilised Tropical Fruits in Asia Network (UTFANET) deserves commendation for the activities already implemented under a strong collaborative partnership among countries in the region. This enables the conservation, efficient use of genetic resources, and exchange of expertise and technology. This meeting of experts in this field is therefore justified whereby we could review the constraints and draw up plans on how we could more efficiently and effectively attain the objectives outlined on this network. The key words that we must address among others are: comprehensive compilations of information, income generation, nutrition, food security, diversification, and use in agroforestry systems. I look forward that this meeting shall bring a stronger relationship among partners, and an active participation during the exchange of knowledge and information. Let us join I hands in getting the best out of this noble effort. Finally, on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, and on my personal behalf, welcome to all of you, and thank you for convening this meeting here in Thailand. As a host, we shall do our best to attend to your needs for the next three days. I now declare the Meeting on Fruits for the Future open. Thank you. 7 WELCOME ADDRESS Mr. Roger Smith, Chairman, ICUC Board of Trustees Mr Manoch Thongjein, representing the Director General, Department of Agriculture, Thailand; Mr Somsak Singholka, representing the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Co-operatives of Thailand; Mr Lloyd Barnaby Smith, H. M. Ambassador of the UK to the Government of Thailand; Honourable delegates, colleagues and friends. It is indeed an honour and a privilege to welcome you all, on behalf of the International Centre for Underutilised Crops, to this important meeting. We are gathered here for the next few days to officially launch the first three of 10 books on underutilised tropical fruits which ICUC is publishing as the outputs of a project funded by the UK Department for International Development’s (DFID) Forestry Research Programme (FRP). Secondly we are holding a Regional Workshop on the Processing and Marketing on Underutilised Tropical Fruits, a key meeting for the Global Programme “Fruits for the Future”. We are privileged to have with us the principle authors of the three books being launched: Prof. Gunasena, the author of the book on Tamarind, Dr. Pareek, the author of the book of Ber and Dr. Pinto, the author of the book on Annona species. I welcome all three, and shortly they will present their books to our Guest of Honour, our Chief Guest and our Special Guest. The workshop on Processing and Marketing will enable participants, including those from the Underutilised Tropical Fruits in Asia Network (UTFANET), to identify opportunities and constraints connected with the increased marketing of fruits and processed products from the many underutilised fruits in the warmer parts of the world. It is hoped that the workshop will produce a timetable and action plan to deal with the main constraints and to realise the identified opportunities, for the benefit of farmers, processors, traders and consumers of our fruits. I would like to take this opportunity to say a few words about the structure and future aspirations of ICUC. ICUC is managed by an International Board of Trustees, which meets annually in the UK. The Board has nominated a Management and Programme Committee, which looks after the affairs of ICUC between Board Meetings. Staff of ICUC are based in the headquarters at the University of Southampton, UK and at one or other of its regional offices. Our Director, as we all know, is Nazmul Haq. ICUC is about to appoint a programme co-ordinator to work with the Director. ICUC employs secretarial support in Southampton, and has other staff employed on the strength of its various projects. These include Angela Hughes, who manages 8