CAU unit joins hands with MSMEs
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 02 2022:
College of Food Technology (CoFT) under the Central Agricultural University has begun technology transfer, commercialisation and exchange of other facilities in public private partnership (PPP) mode with Nahakpam Food and Beverages, Paona Keithel.
Nahakpam Beverages is actively engaged in sale of perishable vegetable items and food processing.
At the same time, the college is taking up several initiatives in the field of food processing with installation of various equipment.
College of Food Technology, CAU is equipped with numerous equipment for food testing like automated Kjeldahl apparatus, automated fat extraction unit, dietary fibre machine among others.
For processing also, the college has many large-scale facilities like electric dryer, hammer mill, pulveriser and baking oven.
Dean of the College Dr Ng Joykumar said, "Our duty is not only to produce top notched food processing professionals and but also to assist in the larger cause of the society.
Our facilities are open to all food entrepreneurs and processors.
We welcome them to fully utilise the facilities at the minimal cost.
We understand the struggle of budding entrepreneurs.
We hope we can ease their problem at least to some extent".
As a starting point, 1 tonne of turmeric rhizome is being dried at the drier of food processing plant of the college at the nominal rate of Rs 3.0 per kg.
Founder of Nahakpam Food and Beverages Shanta Nahakpam said, "We are lucky to partner with CoFT, CAU.
In my long journey of working in the field of agriculture and food processing, this kind of co-operation is not only rare but also path breaking.
I believe that this will benefit young entrepreneurs.
Soon, we are also producing spray dried pineapple powder with the equipment and infrastructure available at CAU".
It may be noted that CAU, Imphal is the only facility in the state with commercial spray drier.