Padmavati Prabhu
Panaji
In view of fruits being artificially ripened by hazardous chemicals, the state government has decided to set up fruit ripening chambers at various market yards in Goa where injected ethylene would make them free from health hazards.
The Goa Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing Board (GAPLMB) said that large quantities of fruits are ripened using calcium carbide, which emits harmful substances like phosphor and arsenic, leading to health hazards. As per Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA), the use of carbide is strictly banned.
The only safe and globally accepted method is using ethylene, which is a natural hormone for ripening under controlled temperature and relative humidity conditions. The banana, after being cleaned, packaged and quality checked, needs to be ripened before it arrives at the different retail outlets to be purchased by consumers, GAPLMB said.
“There is an immense need for the establishment of ripening facilities in the state, owing to the large production and arrivals of bananas and mangoes in the market yards of the State. These ripening chambers can be set up with capacities of 15 tonnes and 10 tonnes in various large and small market yards under GAPLMB,” a senior government official said.
The official said that the preference of customers buying bananas is primarily influenced by the spotless yellow colour of the banana, apart from its size.
“Thus, there is a need for a proper ripening facility for the fruit in order to be sold at the best price from the producers’ perspective. In today’s world of globalisation, customers have become quality conscious about fruits. If fruits are properly ripened and displayed in a presentable form with attractive colour, they definitely catch the eyes of the buyer,” GAPLMB said.
GAPLMB said that mangoes during the season are also ripened by carbide, which is hazardous to health. “The ripening chamber with injected ethylene would make them free from health hazards,” GAPLMB said.
GAPLMB has floated a Request for Proposal for the design, supply, installation, and commissioning of fruit ripening chambers at various market yards in Goa. The GAPLMB intends to install the first fruit ripening chamber at its Mapusa market subyard.
