Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 16 February 2025
The Zonal Agriculture Office, in collaboration with the Industries Department under the A&N Administration, organized a two-day training program on ‘Value Addition of Fruits & Vegetables’ under the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) initiative. The training was conducted on February 14 and 15 at the Zonal Industries Office, Diglipur, aiming to equip participants with skills to enhance the shelf life and market value of locally grown produce.
Ms. Arti Singh, Assistant Director (Agriculture), Diglipur, highlighted the importance of fruits and vegetables in a healthy diet, emphasizing their rich vitamin and mineral content. She elaborated on how value addition not only reduces food wastage but also enhances nutritional value, increases farmers’ incomes, and contributes to food security through product diversification.
Ms. Bibi Afreen Nisha, IPO, Industries Department, encouraged participants to explore opportunities in the food processing sector, which offers scope for investment, entrepreneurship, and employment. She also informed them about the support available from the Industries Department for those interested in large-scale value addition.
As part of the training, hands-on sessions were conducted on the value addition of Carambola, Ginger, and Mango. Ms. Arshiya Rehman, Instructor, led the practical demonstrations under the guidance of Mr. Swapan Chandra Mallick, Pilot Plant Incharge, Industries Department, Diglipur.
The program successfully imparted knowledge on enhancing the commercial potential of agricultural produce, encouraging farmers and entrepreneurs to adopt value addition techniques for economic growth.