Session IV: Secondary Agriculture

Secondary agriculture focuses on the transformation and utilization of agricultural products to create additional value. It is a key driver of rural development, value addition, and agricultural sustainability. Secondary agriculture bridges the gap between farm and market, enhancing the overall resilience and profitability of agricultural sector. It encompasses a wide range of post-harvest activities which include processing, preservation and packaging, product development and byproduct utilization. Tuber crops like cassava, sweet potato, yams and aroids offer significant opportunities for secondary agriculture. They can be processed into flour, starch, chips, fermented products, and industrial products such as adhesives, bioplastics and biofuels. By tapping into these avenues, farmers and entrepreneurs can unlock new markets and economic opportunities.

A. Post-Harvest Management and Processing

• Advanced processing technologies for tuber crops
• Post-harvest handling and storage solutions
• Strategies for reducing post-harvest losses
• Quality assurance, food safety, and traceability systems

B. Value Addition and Product Development

• Development of innovative food products from tuber crops
• Non-food applications of tuber crops (e.g., bio-materials, industrial uses)
• Innovations in traditional and indigenous tuber-based foods

C. Preservation and Packaging

• Technologies for extending shelf life of tuber crops
• Innovations in packaging design and materials
• Sustainable and eco-friendly packaging solutions
• Smart and intelligent packaging systems for quality monitoring

D. By-product Utilization and Waste Management

• Valorization of tuber crop by-products
• Composting and animal feed production from crop waste
• Bioenergy and biogas generation from agricultural residues
• Circular economy approaches in tuber crop value chains

E. Mechanization

• Pre- and post-harvest machinery
• Processing equipment and automation technologies
• Mechanization solutions for small and marginal farmers
• Green, energy-efficient, and low-cost machinery innovations