Training on Jack fruit: Value Addition as an enterprise for farm women
Training on Jack fruit: Value Addition as an enterprise for farm women
ICAR Research Complex for Goa organised a training entitled, “Training on Jack fruit: Value Addition as an enterprise for farm women”, from 25-27th June 2014, under the Project, “Empowering Tribes of Goa with post harvest machinery for processing and value addition in minor fruits’. This training programme was funded by Tribal Sub-Plan, Ministry of Tribal Welfare, Govt. Of India. Our organization has trained and ensured capacity building to tribal self help groups, by distributing processing machinery to the groups. During 2013, training programmes were held for tribal farm women of Goa, upon Value addition in Jack fruit and kokum. And the processing machinery required for the processing was also distributed to six tribal Self Help Groups free of cost. Similarly, this year (2014), training programme was conducted for three days in the institute. The trainees were demonstrated various value added products of Jack fruit viz., pickle, chips, halwa, leather, cake, jack seed kheer, bajjas, papad, squash, xacuti and biryani. They were also given hands on training for operating the processing machinery on second and third days. The fabricator of the machinery also trained the group on operation of the machines. They were also sensitized about the maintenance of the machinery. Besides this, resource person from Department of Food and Drugs, Panjim gave a lecture on “Significance, modalities and advantages of FSSAI license for value added products”. During the lecture, Mrs.Iva Fernandes explained about the procedures to be followed, hygiene to be maintained and the significance of licensed value added products. Another interesting feature of the programme was the recipe competition that was held for the participants. The competition was announced on the first day, and the evaluation was held on the second day. There was enthusiastic participation and mouth watering panos sanna types, panos cake, panos sheera, panos sweet vadas, stuffed dhones and patolis, crispy chips etc. were the attraction of the day. The preparations were adjudged and prizes were given away to the winners on third day.
During the training, the women were also trained for bulk production, packaging and labeling. They prepared items like pickle, papad, leather etc in bulk. They were also trained to stick labels, pack the produce and seal them with PP Sealing machine. The products got sold like hot cakes at the end of the training. This imparted interest and confidence in the minds of the participants, which made them vow to take up production of value added products from jack fruit in the ensuing season.
During the valedictory session, chief guest Dr.N.P.Singh, Director, ICAR RC for Goa, encouraged all participants to come forward and make good use of the facilities rendered by government. He also stressed the importance of financial self dependence for women that will facilitate to lead a stress free life. He did not fail to interact with them about the practical problems they face in processing in a commercial scale. He also gave away the prizes for recipe competition winners and participation certificates to the trainees. The training programme was organised by Dr.( Mrs). S.Priya Devi, Sr Scientist (Horticulture), ICAR RC, along with Dr.Mathala Juliet Gupta, Scientist (AS&EM), ICAR RC and Mrs.Sunetra Talailikar, SMS (Home Science), KVK, North Goa.