Agartala, Mar 22 (FN Agency) The Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) has started a skill development program for entrepreneurs in northeastern India to promote horticulture-based industries and value addition of abandoned fruits, vegetables, and herbs. CFTRI Chief Scientist Dr Ng Iboyaima Singh said on Tuesday that they have already trained about 250 horticulture entrepreneurs of five northeastern states excluding Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh so far this year for building up Horti-based industries and developing an international market chain. “Northeast has sufficient production of numerous varieties of fruits, vegetables and herbs and a few of them are exclusively grown in the region because of it’s agro-climatic condition and has huge demand outside. We are in the process of training to motivate the youngsters to get into the business by taking the advantages of government schemes,” Singh stated.
He further stated that the Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has been working for facilitating the Horti-growers to sell it outside markets and encourage developing Agri and Horti based factories in the region and they are sponsoring this training programme too. The international export of pineapple, jackfruit and lemon from Tripura in the last three years have been facilitated by APEDA and now these goods were well-recognised in Middle East and European countries besides, Indian cities, Singh pointed out adding, “CFTRI and APEDA working in mission mode to bring a new horizon in Northeastern economy in a time bound manner with the support of respective state governments.” According to Assistant Director Deepak Vaidya, as many as 32 Horti entrepreneurs have been imparted training this time by CFTRI here and the officials of the state government have explained the government schemes and support system available for the sector.
“Despite Covid19 pandemic Tripura was able to supply a few consignments of pineapple, lemon and jackfruit to the international market in last three years. The development of trading opportunities at national and international level, growers have also become interested in production of horticultural produces and a large amount of wasteland and non-agriculture land have come under horticultural purposes in the state,” Vaidya added. He attributed Tripura is now producing new varieties of citrus fruits, dragon fruits and farmers are also getting involved in cultivation and harvesting of local fruits, herbs, shrubs, roots and barks and added, “A recent study established that jackfruit powder if mixed with flours helps diabetic patients. And, we are also trying to develop enterprise and bring investment for jackfruit pulp to powder and manufacturing of value addition products.”