Central horticultural Experiment Station (ICAR-IIHR), Bhubaneswar organised a two days training on ‘Processing of raw jackfruit for value addition for creating supplimentary income for tribal stakeholders’ under Tribal Sub plan on 24-25 March 2021 for the skill augmentation of tribal farmers on minimal processing and product preparation of raw jackfruit.
Training programme was inaugurated by Head of the Station and PI, TSP, Dr. G. C. Acharya, who emphasised on the urgent necessity of processing of jackfruits in Odisha and neighbouring States to create alternate livelihood source for tribal folk, and to abate the wastage of jackfruits. Dr. Kundan Kishore, Principal Scientist and Co-PI, TSP, explained the importance of post-harvest processing of fruits for realising higher returns from interventions like grading, artificial ripening, proper packaging, etc. Dr. Deepa Samant, Scientist (SS) shared the research achievements made by the Station in the area of jackfruit minimal processing. Dr. P. Srinivas, Principal Scientist and Co-PI, TSP, shared the efforts being taken during past seven years under TSP for creating alternate avenues and source of income from raw jackfruit processing in Gajapati district of Odisha. He also explained about the advantages and functioning of Arka Neelachal Raw jackfruit Peeler developed by the Station.
During the practical sessions spread over the two days of training programme, tribal trainees were provided with hands on training on the minimal processing and preparation of value added products of the raw jackfruit on commercial scale in the tribal region. Besides eight tribal beneficiaries from villages of Mohna block, around 20 tribal farmers from Rayagada district, 16 tribal farmers from Chempua, Keonjhar district and 17 tribal farmers from Chintapalli mandal, Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh were demonstrated the functioning of Arka Neelachal Raw Jackfruit Peeler, during the above period. Dr. P. Srinivas, Pr. Scientist, described the procedure of minimal processing of raw jack by integrating various steps like selection of fruit, mechanical peeling using Arka Neelachal Raw jackfruit Peeler, pre-treatment with citric acid to check browning, and packing in poly bags for marketing, etc., while highlighting the importance and commercial potential of processing and marketing of tender jack in nearby townships. The participants were given the training on using the peeler and further processing. All the participants took turns in peeling the jackfruits, cutting and packing the cut pieces.
A separate session on hands-on training on preparation of pickle, badi and other items from raw jackfruit was taken up, where Smt Puspa Panda from Prerana Strot Organisation took extensive sessions on process of preparation of raw jackfruit based dosa, raw jack powder, jack in brine, pakoda, vada, jack fries, badi, pickles, jack biryani, etc. The participants were curious about the novel opportunities in processing of raw jackfruits and were visibly excited about the prospects of the undertaking the raw jackfruit processing in the current season. The tribal farmers are expected to be motivated enough to undertake the minimal processing and storage of raw jackfruits during the current season.
Dr. P. Srinivas, Pr. Scientist and Co-PI, TSP, co-ordinated the two days training programme with active support from Dr. Kundan Kishore, Pr. Scientist and Co-PI, TSP and Sri Bulu Maharana, SSS and other staff, as per guidance of the Head (I/C) and Principal Investigator TSP Dr. G. C. Acharya.
