HT Bureau
Guwahati, July 2: A training program on ‘Food Processing and Preservation’ was organised at the Extension Education Institute (NE Region) AAU, Khanapara, Guwahati recently. The program aimed to equip rural youth with the necessary skills to start enterprises in the sector of food processing and preservation. The program was jointly organised by EEI-NER, AAU, Guwahati, Axom Agri, Jorhat, Tata Trusts CML, and CCTC of Guwahati.
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During the valedictory address, Dr Pradip Neog, director of Extension Education Institute – NER, AAU, highlighted the need for enterprises engaged in commercial preservation and value addition of nutritionally rich minor fruits available in Assam. He also stated the importance of conserving these species and encouraged the establishment of such enterprises in villages.
Raklb Husain of Tata Trust CML, Guwahati, spoke on behalf of the sponsors, and Jayati Choudhury of Axom Agri emphasised the need for youth to acquire various skills to become self-reliant. Dr C Deka of EEI-NER presented a motivational speech on the challenges faced in becoming a successful entrepreneur and also coordinated the program on behalf of EEI.
Participants nominated by ABC, Golaghat, an NGO, attended the training program. The program included presentations by Mousumi Hazarika, demonstration officer of CCTC, DoH, GoA, Guwahati, on an overview of the food processing industry and the entrepreneurial prospects. Dr S Borua of EEI-NER explained crucial aspects of food safety and the legal procedures to be followed.
Around 35 rural youth from all over Assam received hands-on practical training on food processing and preservation at the Community Canning and Training Centre under the government department of Horticulture in Panjabari, Guwahati. The participants were taught the preparation of various food products such as pineapple squash, lemon syrup, papaya tutti frutti, blackberry squash, and carambola/starfruit syrup. The training was facilitated by Dr Shamima Yasmin Saikia and Arindita of Axom Agri, and many women beneficiaries of Tata Trusts’ project site at Boko also attended the program.
