POST HARVEST TECHNOLOGY

Post harvest practices in coffee play an important role in preserving and enhancing the intrinsic quality of coffee.  The Division of Post Harvest Technology was established in CCRI during 1996 to study the problems related to post harvest operations in coffee and to improve overall quality of coffee at estate level.

SALIENT ACHIEVEMENTS.

• Greens and half ripe berries increase the pulper cuts.

• Grading o fruits before pulping reduces the pulper cuts to a large extent.

• Fermentation of beans before washing by washing machine ensures complete removal of mucilage with less damage to parchment besides a low water consumption.

• Commercial enzyme brings about reduction in fermentation time in both arabica and robusta with no adverse affects.  

• Development / Evaluation of Pulper come washer in collaboration with Tamil Nadu  Agricultural University, Coimbatore. 

• Development of pit digger and coffee mass raker in collaboration with MERADO Chennai.

• The model based on chemical and two-stage biological treatments suggested by NEERI most suited for treating coffee effluents.

ON-GOING PROGRAMMES

• Research on post harvest practices, development / evaluation of machinery and production of value added products from coffee wastes.

• Studies relating to pesticides, residues, and microbial / mycotoxin contamination in coffee.

• Studies related to water pollution emanating from wet processing of coffee.

THRUST AREAS

• Improving quality of parchment by soaking in dilute acid solutions.

• Studies on effect of shade on drying and quality of coffee.

• Evaluation of processing machinery for identifying better machinery for pulping and washing.

• Studies on coffee waste utilization.

• Systematic studies to identify the critical points in the production of coffee by either wet, or dry methods.

• Studies to minimise  the contamination from mycotoxins and facilities to analyse these contaminations.

• Untilizing coffee waste for energy production ( Bio-gas ).

• Studies on using enzymes and algae, cultures for cost viable effluent treatment technology.

• Educating the growers on anti pollution measures.