Village Incubation Centre for Value Addition of Tuber Crops Inaugurated by ICAR

 

“Adding value to low-cost cassava (tapioca) tubers will double the agricultural income of the Manipur farmers” is the message delivered by Dr SV Ngachan, Director of ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya during the Launching Workshop-cum-Training Programme on “Incubation Centre for Value Addition of Tuber Crops” at Riha and Thoyee villages of Ukhrul district under ICAR-CTCRI-NEH programme and special funds for tuber crops, respectively on 17.02.2016. Dr Ngachan stressed the need for converting the abundantly-available cassava tubers into high value snack food product like tapioca crisps (Bhujia) etc. He lauded ICAR-CTCRI efforts in bringing the concept of a Village-level incubation Centre to the NEH region and hoped that these centres will bring sustainable increase of agricultural income in future. During his talk, Dr. I. Meghachandra Singh, Joint Director in charge, ICAR-RC NEH (Manipur Centre) informed that tuber crops have high potential for value addition and the incubation centre can also help the farmers for value addition of other cereals and pulses.  Mr Joy Kumar, DDM, NABARAD, Ukhrul assured necessary help from NABARD for enhancing market potential of the products fro the incubation Centre. About 100 progressive farmers/ SHG members/ prospective entrepreneurs from Riha and Thoyee villages were trained in the tuber crops snack food production. A team of scientists headed by Dr. M. S. Sajeev, Principal Scientist, comprised of Dr. P. S. Sivakumar, Senior Scientist and Mr Salimon, STO from ICAR- Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram trained the farmers. This programme was organised by Dr M.R. Sahoo, Senior Scientist, ICARRCNEH (Manipur Center) and hosted by Mrs. K. Sanyola Raman, PC, KVK Imphal. Dr AK Jha, Head, Horticulture, ICARRCNEH, Umiam, Meghalaya, scintist delegates from ICAR RC NEHR, Manipur Centre; Cental Agricultural University, Imphal; KVK Ukhrul, KVK Imphal West, KVK Chandel and officials from NABARD and line departments participated in the function. The programme was ended with the vote of thanks pronounced by Dr. Y. Ramakrishna, Programme Coordinator, KVK Ukhrul.

 

Inauguration of Incubation Centre at Riha

 

 Inauguration of Incubation Centre at Thoyee

 

Club members in action: Preparing Cassava Chips

 

Tuber Crops Products Prepared by Club members