Prof Rokhani: VHT Technology is a Solution for Indonesian Tropical Horticulture Exports
Given its geographical position, Indonesia’s tropical horticulture potential is huge. However, the export process is often constrained by fruit fly pests from the Tephritidae family. IPB University post-harvest engineering expert, Prof Rokhani, revealed that Vapor Heat Treatment (VHT) technology can be one of the solutions in terms of quarantine technology to overcome this problem.
The presentation of VHT technology was explained by Prof Rokhani in an online Pre Scientific Oration of Professor Press Conference on Thursday, 25/02. According to Prof Rokhani, VHT technology can be a suitable solution to fulfil quarantine requirements for global horticultural trade that apply in export destination countries.
“VHT technology is the right way to avoid damaging horticultural products, especially fruit. Quarantine technology to eradicate fruit fly larvae and eggs consists of fumigation or chemically, irradiation, cold treatment and heat treatment or VHT method,” explained the Professor of the Faculty of Agricultural Technology, IPB University.
“The heat treatment method is better than other methods because it does not damage the quality of the fruit and there is no concern about chemical residues left behind,” explained the figure who currently serves as Deputy Head of the Science Techno Park (STP) IPB University.
He continued, the parameters of the effectiveness of the process are temperature and exposure time. Meanwhile, there are two targets, namely fruit fly mortality that reaches 100 per cent and the quality of the fruit is not damaged.
“VHT technology can be applied to all types of tropical fruits. However, there are still influencing factors such as variety, size and shape, maturity level and the method used. Therefore, the application needs to be studied fruit by fruit,” continued the lecturer of Agricultural and Biosystem Engineering Study Programme.
Prof Rokhani said that research on VHT technology has been conducted at IPB University since 2002. The results showed that in-vitro mortality of Bactrocera papayae fruit flies reached 100 per cent at 46 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes. This treatment also had no effect on weight loss, total soluble solids and hardness, and did not cause physiological damage.
“Due to the perishable nature of horticultural commodities, to extend the shelf life, further treatment is needed such as cooling, coiling, the use of ethylene absorber or ethylene inhibitor to delay fruit maturity and the application of MAP (Modified Atmosphere Packaging) or CAS (Controlled Atmosphere Storage) technology,” he said.
Prof Rokhani continued, VHT technology can be applied at the trader or exporter level. From the government side, the application of VHT technology was initiated by organising a laboratory-scale VHT unit in 2018 at the Jatisari Plant Disturbance Organism Forecasting Centre (BBPOPT).
“We need to create strategic partnerships among agribusiness actors by involving farmers, intermediary traders, exporters and post-harvest handling facility providers including strengthening the transport system, infrastructure and smooth export processes. With this, the competitiveness of Indonesian horticulture can increase, especially if it wants to enter the global market,” he concluded. (IAAS/RUM)
