Goemkarponn desk
SAVOI-VEREM: VKSS society of SavoiVeremto install a Food Processing Unit in the village, to be rented to locals willing to transform their farm produce/ locally grown raw commodity into a processed product for value addition.
Dr Dattaram Desai, Chairman of VKSS Society said, this December 18, VKSS will make its debut in Diamond Jubilee year. The food processing unit is tentatively planned to be inaugurated on this day. The unit will be installed in a 200 square metre rented area situated at Madhlawada.
Elucidating the plan, Desai said the VKSS will rent this unit at a reasonable rate to the general public. The locals willing to process the raw commodities (farm produce/fruits) for its value addition can take the machine on rent and process the raw entities. These products after branding can be sold at a good price in contrast to those sold otherwise. Transformation of this raw commodity into a processed product will not only increase its value but also reduce its wastage.
Welcoming the initiative of VKSS, Suresh Naik, a retired school teacher who also owns a farm urged locals to take benefit of this unit. “This will not only improve the profitability of farmers but also give gainful employment opportunities to women.In addition, it will p ovide better quality, safe and branded food products to the consumers.
Adding further Naik said, “People should come forward and take benefit of such initiatives. “Processing fruits into value-added products will reduce post-harvest losses and promote fruit consumption. Our village has an ample of Jackfruit bearing trees. Most of these fruits once ripened falls on ground and rot or end up becoming a cattle feed. This initiative will not only reduce the wastage of fruits but also channelize the resources in correct direction.
Estimated cost of 14 lakh rupees has beensanctioned under Prime Ministers Formalisation of Micro Enterprises (PMFME) scheme of Aatmanirbhar Bharat Swayampurna Goa, of which an auxiliary machinery worth rupees seven lakh has been already purchased and is currently in the process of installation. The unit will be ready to use in next two months, added Desai.
Savoi-Verem and its surrounding areas such as Betki, Savoi, Jambhola, Ghano, Tamsuli sees bounteous of raw horticulture entities every year. This includes jackfruit, mango, java plum, kokum, pineapple, banana, papaya, gooseberry, water rose apple, wild fruits and berries such as caranz, cotton fruit etc. These commodities rather than selling raw can be value added to gain more benefits, added Desai.
Stating that something is better than nothing, Naik said instead of wasting the fruits and ending them up as a cattle feed, these fruits if processed can turn up into a good source of income generation”. Value addition of raw commodity is must for sustainable business. Selling raw products does not yield desired price for farmers. Value addition is a smart move to multiply the gain. For example, Jackfruit, Pineapple has plentiful of nutritive benefits and can be processed into pickle, chips, jam etc. A reasonable size jackfruit if sold as a single unit can fetch 80 to 100 rupees max, but if processed and sold in the market in the form of chips or any such processed product can definitely fetch double its original price, he added.
BabuGaude, Vice-Chairman of VKSS and active Panch member of Verem-Vaghurme VP said such initiative will make villagers self-reliant. This food processing unit will upgrade the quality of raw material by means of processing, packing or any other such methods of marketing. The raw entities if value added will no doubt benefit the horticulturalists and farmers.
