Port Blair, Dec 30: The valedictory function of training programme to members of core team and trainers of Industries, Agriculture, and ITI which was started on 20-12-2011 and Inaugural function of new batch of trainers in food processing on marine and coconut based products was organized by UNNATI on 30-12-2011 with the support of ENI India Ltd/ONGC and NABARD in association with Directorate of Agriculture, Industries, ITI.Mr.AS.Dagar, Secretary of (Fisheries, Agriculture and Co-operation) was the chief guest.
Mr. Abdul Majeed Secretary Island Fisheries Co-operative Society representatives of Fisherman welcomed the chief guest and others, and appreciated the efforts of Secretary (Fisheries) for various support to fishermen. He said his efforts to arrange loan to fishermen to purchase fishing boats is praise worthy. He also highly welcomed the initiative of UNNATI for providing them the opportunity for value addition of the fish to enhance their income.
Mr. C. Mohammed President, UNNATI expressed his gratitude for the excellent support extended by line departments in setting up and managing the food processing center. He said UNNATI is also working in the field of livelihood/ self-employment which would be successful if we train our manpower for utilization of locally available raw-materials. Therefore UNNATI is giving much focus in training people on coconut and marine based products under food processing sector. Absence of food technologists are the main hurdle for promotion of food processing in theseIslands. Therefore, we need to develop the capacity and skill of our trainers by getting resource person frequently from mainland who are experts in making coconut and marine based products. He said he has taken up the matter with the Chief Secretary on18-12-2011for hiring Food Technologist for training trainers and also depute our trainers for short term course being conducted by CFTRI and other organization. He further said that the interests which are being shown by PRIs and NGOs for adopting food processing training are very encouraging. On29-12-2011President, Yuva Sakti visited the center with 25 Self Help Group members to show them the process of making coconut desiccated powder. Similarly Pradhan Stewartgunj visited the food processing centers with 26 Self Help Group members. He said of Administration may consider to set up cottage scale coconut desiccated plant in coconut growing area including tribal area to use the plant on nominal charge to increase the income of coconut growers through the process of value addition of coconut and in getting remunerative price for coconut. He also said Food Processing training progress will be arranged in association with Agriculture & Industry Department in remote places from where the trainees are finding difficulties to come & stay at Port Blair. Already proposal from Panchayat received for conducting training in their respective area.
Mr. A.S.Dagar Chief Guest appreciated the efforts of UNNATI for providing self-employment opportunities through locally available raw materials. He said unemployment is a serious problem particularly when government job has reached to a saturating point. Therefore we should exploit the self-employment opportunities with quality training and arrangement for marketing of the products. He said UNNATI’s food technologists will also provide escort source for 2 years for assistance in preparing project report, setting up units, and availing loan for financial institutions etc. He urged the trainees should take advantage of the opportunity and adopt food processing as means of their livelihood he said various assistance and concessions are available from Govt. also. He assumed his full support from the Agriculture and Fisheries Department under his change. He also said that trainees may form cooperative societies to avail various subsidies for management of the organization and marketing of the products. The certificates to the trainees were distributed by S/S .A.S.Dagar Secretary (Fisheries, Agriculture & Cooperative) M. A. Salam, Director of Agriculture, Dr. Ananthakrishnan, Deputy General Manager, NABARD and Dr.Krishnamorthy Director Fisheries.
The training to core team/traines was conducted by Mr.T.R. Prabhu Food Consultant and Retired Scientist of CFTRI and training to candidates is conducted by Mr. Neeraj Sharma Food Technologist of UNNATI assisted by other trainers and resource person of the departments.
N & M Correspondent
