KVK, East Sikkim Strengthens the Farm Women through value addition.
Krishi Vigyan Kendra, East Sikkim, ICAR Sikkim Centre, Ranipool organized a day long training cum demonstration programme on Value Addition in Red Cherry Pepper on 28th August, 2015 at Tshalamthang, East Sikkim sponsored by ATMA (East), Department of Food Security and Agriculture Development Department, Government of Sikkim. A total of 32 farm women from Tshalamthang, Sang, Saangkhola villages of East Sikkim participated in the programme.
Chief Guest Dr. R. K. Avasthe, Joint Director, ICAR Research Complex, Sikkim Centre emphasized on the various aspects of value addition of various horticultural crops. He detailed the post harvest losses of horticultural crops due to lack of proper knowledge of post harvest management, besides, he appreciated the initiative and interest shown by the villages against the losses and possibilities in value addition for increasing incomes.
Dr. Raghavendra Singh, Program Coordinator (I/c), KVK East Sikkim, briefed the gathering about the scope of value addition in all horticultural as well as agricultural crops and that it should be adopted by all for economic upliftment of village as a whole in view of very high post harvest losses which can be prevented.
Mrs. Anushree Gogoi, Programme Assistant (Home Science), explained the steps involved in value addition of different horticultural crops emphasizing on red cherry pepper which is a high value cash crop of Sikkim. She demonstrated the preparation of dalley chilli paste along with the economically feasible practice of packaging the product to make it appealing with better market potential. Deepti Gazamer, KVK East Sikkim assisted her in conducting the demonstration smoothly.
Coordinating the programme, Sh. Boniface Lepcha, SMS (Horticulture), explained about the scientific package of practices on production of red cherry pepper for increased production and productivity. Fruit drop and other major problems of red cherry pepper were also discussed in his deliberation.
Sh. Ongdi Sherpa, Horticulture Inspector, Deptt. of HCCD, Govt. of Sikkim appreciated the efforts of ICAR, Sikkim Centre for taking the initiative of preparation of chilli paste which has great market value in Sikkim and can be taken up as an enterprise by SHGs members. He also stressed upon the organic production of horticultural crops on commercial basis in Sikkim.
Sh. Tashi Bhutia, Marketing Inspector, SIMFED detailed the importance of post harvest technologies like harvesting, curing, grading, packaging and marketing for fetching better returns of their produce and also about forming commodity interest group to sell the produce in towns like Singtam and Gangtok also for export to other states.
The training was also attended by Ms. Sushma Subba, FA and SIMFED- ICS Field Assistants led by Mrs Deppa Lepcha.
Vote of thanks was proposed by Mr. Boniface Lepcha, SMS (Horticulture) KVK East Sikkim.
