Field Day on value added products conducted
Source: Chronicle News Service

Kakching, June 12 2024: A Field Day on value added products from underutilized indigenous fruits and vegetables was conducted at Chandonpokpi village in Chandel district on Wednesday.

The Field Day was attended by Dr A Ameeta Devi (Sr Scientist & Head, ICAR-KVK Chandel), Chandonpokpi village chief MK Chongrum and Ziontlang village chief R Youthem as presidium members.

Delivering the key-note address, KVK Chandel SMS (Home Science) Dr Y Pra-bhabati Devi said that underutilized indigenous fruits and vegetables which are very rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants remain wasted during the season.

By converting these underutilized indigenous fruits and vegetables into different value-added products, the income of farmers and nutritional status of the products can be enhanced to some extent.

She also stressed that the technology assistance offered by KVK must be utilised with efficiency and production of value-added goods must be encouraged in the coming years so that post-harvest losses could be covered to some extent.

Speaking at the programme, village chief MK Chongrum acknowledged that processing of fruits and vegetables by farmers have reduced wastage of the fruits and vegetable and urged farmers who have not undertaken the technology to adopt in the coming days in order to increase their income by using the underutilised fruits available throughout the year.

Ziontlang village chief R Youthem also emphasised that post-harvest technology should be encouraged and farmers must adopt the technology developed by KVK.

Later, an interaction session was conducted between farmers and scientists including Dr Y Prabhabati Devi, Ts Leenda Monsang SMS (Plant Breeding), Dr Khumlo Levish SMS (Agronomy), Ps Lavid Anal SMS (Horticulture), and Dr K Sonamani Singh, SMS (Agri Engineering).

During the Field Day programme, value added products developed by progressive farm women were displayed and inputs like preservatives and packaging materials distributed to the farmers.

Altogether 55 farmers including staff of KVK Chandel attended the programme.

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