Usoi cookies
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 22 2015:
Nutritious and high fibre Usoi cookies were presented by Prof Nirmala Chongtham of Department of Botany of Panjab University to the Governor of Damyang, Choi Hun Sik and others during World Bamboo Congress held from September 17 to 22 at Damyang, South Korea.
Research is being conducted in Panjab University in collaboration with Centre for Science Education, North Eastern Hill University, Shillong to devise methods for fortifying food items with bamboo shoots.
Usoi cookies and many other products fortified with bamboo shoots are being researched and promoted by Panjab University and North Eastern Hill University with the financial assistance from the Ministry of Food Processing Industries and Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.
Prof Nirmala is the chairperson of the technical committee of the 10th World Bamboo Congress, 2015.She has also been selected as a world bamboo ambassador from India to promote bamboo as a wood and food for the 21st century.
Acknowledging Nirmala's expertise in the field, Ned Jaquith Foundation, Oregon, USA awarded her a publication grant for writing a book entitled, 'Bamboo shoots as health food' .