VEGETABLE POSTHARVEST TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AND DIFFUSION IN THE GREATER MEKONG SUB-REGION OF ASIA

Postharvest loss and poor quality of vegetables remain serious problems in developing countries, particularly those in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) of Asia. To contribute to solving these problems and ultimately reducing poverty, enhancing rural economic development, and improving food security in GMS, two postharvest technology (PHT) initiatives of AVRDC-The World Vegetable Center funded by the Asian Development Bank were instituted. These initiatives were focused on Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, with the other three GMS countries (China-Yunnan, Myanmar and Thailand) playing a supportive role. Approaches and outcomes of fresh produce PHT development and technology dissemination components of these initiatives are discussed.