ICAR-KVK West Siang conducts a Training cum demonstration on Value addition of fruits & vegetables for additional income generation under NICRA

ICAR-KVK West Siang conducted aTraining cum demonstration programme on Value addition of fruits & vegetables for additional income generation under NICRA on 20th March’2019. A total of 38 farmers participated in the programme. The hands on training was focused on value addition in pine apple, orange and locally available other seasonal fruits. During the programme all aspects of pine apple cultivation, processing and post harvest processing and marketing, etc were covered. Each trainee was given real time practical exposure to learn technique and methodology to prepare the pine apple and orange squash with their hands under the guidance and supervision of experts. It is worth mention that the farmers of Basar area of District West Siang grow good quality pine apple, orange. Therefore they feel need of proper marketing facility for fruits and value added products to take good profit from their produce. Participants were explained the goal of a low cost fruit processing and value addition is to produce an abundant supply of nutritious food items. A low cost fruit processing and value addition unit provides daily fruit juice requirements for the household. It produces different value added products in all the year round. Also, it provides a fixed additional source of income. They were also imparted knowledge on the importance of value addition and processing in horticultural crops and also about the potential of processing at small scale in widening their source of income. They were imparted hands-on training on pine apple and orange squash, pickle making, jam making, squash and sauce making. Participants were advised to maintain proper sanitation while preparing the product and follow standard procedure of preparation. Farmwomen expressed their willingness to take up home-level preparation of squash, jam pickle and for subsidiary income.