Mokokchung, May 21 (MExN): With the aim to impart knowledge on the importance and benefits of value added products to the rural mass, Central Institute of Horticulture, Medziphema organized day long training on “Value Addition in horticulture crops” at the Conference hall, Department of Horticulture, Mokokchung on May 20.
The programme commenced with a brief opening remark by Dr. Akali Sema, Director, CIH who highlighted on the objectives of the Institute and the reason for conducting such training. Imrongtemsu, DHO, Mokokchung while delivering brief remark stated that Mokokchung district is endowed with all kinds of fruits and vegetables which are sold in the local markets during the season. However, he lamented that almost half of the produce gets spoiled or either sold at throw away prices due to lack of proper storage facilities and marketing channels within the districts during the peak season. He encouraged the participants to make use of the available resources for making different value added products like juice, squash, jam, pickles etc.
Before the practical demonstration, Dr. Akali Sema, Director, CIH deliberated on the topic importance and need of Value addition in horticulture crops. This was followed by Practical demonstration of mango squash and juice by Talimeren, HEA, Department of Horticulture, Mokokchung. Tomato pickle and sauce, chilli pickle was practically demonstrated by Puvichuno, Post Harvest Technology, CIH, Medziphema.
The participants were mostly new to this training and commented that they were very much benefited from this training especially with the different value added products. They requested the organizers to give the local names of different ingredients used during the preparation in the reading materials during the training.
All together 94 participants including farmers, SHG’s, students, unemployed youth from 17 villages under Mokokchung district attended the programme.