Port Blair, Sep 14: The 13 days MEDP on Food Processing organized by Unnati at Nanunaghar with the support of NABARD in association with Namunaghar Gram Panchayat concluded on 13th September 2022. On this occasion Mr. H. Manoj General Manager NABARD was the Chief Guest.
Mr. Venkat Pradhan Namunaghar in his welcome address appreciated the support of NABARD and Unnati for organizing quality training on value-added food processing products based on locally available raw materials of fish, prawn, bamboo shoots, lemon, and vegetable products (pickles). He further said NABARD is doing excellent work these days involving NGOs that provide quality training of skill up-gradation to promote self-employment. He also requested to organize beautician and cane and bamboo training in his Panchayat. He further said that Namunaghar village was to develop a model village of fishermen with the creation of all necessary fisheries related infrastructure and the project was started in 1982 and some model houses were also constructed besides allotment of house sites to 60 fishermen but after transfer of the then Lt. Governor the work was discontinued be restarted as planned so that food processing based on fish products could be prepared on a commercial scale.
Mr. Mohd. Safique Pradhan Mithakhari also complemented the good work of NABARD in promoting self-employment. He further said he associated with President Unnati since 1992 when he was in service and with his support, they improved their financial position by forming unemployed youths’ cooperative societies with an arrangement of award of works from various departments. A large number of unemployed cooperative societies were formed due to his efforts and now he is working with the same zeal and enthusiasm for betterment of villagers. He requested in his Panchayat fashion designing training be in his Panchayat. He also mentioned after food processing training after-support to the trainees be ensured to start and continue production activities.
Mr. Sharfuddin Zilla Parishad Member also appreciated NABARD and Unnati for promoting self-employment through various useful training programmes. He suggested we need to give more focus on quality training and also depute candidates to mainland for such training for which raw materials are locally available for which trainer not locally available. Mr. Rajinder Pal Block Development officer in his speech also stressed on quality training and he highly impressed after visiting tailoring and fashion designing training imparted by Unnati at Shorepoint with the support of NABARD and requested to start similar training on tailoring and fashion designing training at Shoal Bay. He also said we must impart quality training to prepare quality products to catch market. He mentioned that the assistance available for self-employment under NRLM and marketing support from the Directorate of Rural Development can be availed. Mr. T. Rafique Samiti Member also mentioned that due to joint efforts of NABARD and Unnati and through various training programmes self-employment opportunities are being made available to unemployed youths. He suggested more such programmes may be organized in all Panchayat involving PRIs.
Social worker Mr. Sharif mentioned that with the support of NABARD Rural Mart constructed for marketing support at Namunaghar needs repair and improvement for its regular functioning. Mr. Jagdish Halder Social worker mentioned Unnati’s Contribution for promotion of unemployed youths’ cooperative societies in these Islands and also promotion of food processing has a special mention. Unnati also received a Trophy for its good performance in the food processing products displayed in the food processing exhibition organized by NABARD.
Interaction with trainees revealed the following points to promote food processing.
1. Existing marketing support needs to be strengthened/ streamlined for selling the products through a sale girl; 2. Arrangement of packing materials and preservatives; 3. Products must contain license number on the label and 4. Problem to avail loan by SHG members.
It was decided to resolve the above issues after convening a meeting involving all stake-holders to resolve the problems.
President, Unnati mentioned that he is thankful to PRIs for their support and appreciation for the joint efforts of NABARD and Unnati. He further said organization of such programme may not be possible without PRIs support and then he offered his views on the points raised by different speakers on self-employment.
1. Regarding marketing support he said it is a genuine demand of the food processing entrepreneurs and trainees. Rural Development Department and NABARD are providing common space for sale of products in rural area but due to less purchasers and transaction it is not viable to spend whole day by all products in the market to sell their products. Therefore, the support of a sale girl may be considered for selling the products of all producers.
2. We trained a large number of candidates in food processing and most of them started production to meet local demand but for commercial production food license is a must for which all conditions under food processing regulation to be fulfilled. It requires separate rooms for preparing veg and non-veg food processing items. Food processing products for sale without license number and other details in label is an offence. Therefore, we have to create common production centre at different places either Panchayat or NGO where they after obtaining license can allow producers/ trainees engaged in food processing to produce products and use their license number on nominal charges basis. Such facility was created by our NGO in Industrial Estate Dollygunj. But now not working due to some dispute. Earlier this production centre was being used by the trainees, SHGs and JLGs formed by us. Similar production centre needs to be created to promote food processing in different Islands.
3. Arrangement of packing materials and preservatives, on the follow up of Unnati NGO, Administration already taken decision to provide same on concessional rate. It is to be implemented. Matter taken up with the administration recently.
4. Difficulties in availing loan by SHG. General Manager NABARD Chief Guest may kindly like to highlight and 5. For development of model village for fishermen and creation of various fisheries related infrastructures at Namunaghar was decided in 1982 by former Lt. Governor Mr. Ranjit Singh Dayal and was also started the work after allotment of land and few model houses also constructed but subsequently the work was stopped. Now villagers demanding to restart the work to boost marine based food processing products. This issue would be taken up with the Administration.
Chief Guest Mr. H. Manoj General Manager NABARD expressed his happiness about the interest shown by the trainees in learning the method of preparation of food processing products. He highlighted the NABARD supported schemes and requested PRI members to avail the facilities to promote self-employment.
As regard Rural Mart, he said that the various suggestions given by the speakers would be examined to improve the functioning of Rural Marts. He also said that difficulty in availing financial assistance by SHG members can be resolved by forming (small group) JLG of like minded members if assistance to avail loan is a problem by SHG members. He also agreed to convene a meeting of all stake holders to resolve the various problems raised by trainees and entrepreneurs engaged in food processing.
As regard the proposal for conduct of MEDP at Shoal Bay, Hope Town, Mithakhari and Namunaghar etc. they may submit proposal for consideration. He advised the trainees to use the skill they learnt during the training and start production activities in small scale and sell the products locally to be perfect and confident to start production activities at commercial scale. They should also keep regular touch with officials of Industry Department to avail various facilities and concessions available under food processing sector and also use facebook etc. to popularize their products.
Mrs. Anbu Malar Trainer of Unnati thanked NABARD for the support to Unnati for conducting food processing training, Pradhan Namunaghar Gram Panchayat for excellent support and trainees for their active interest in learning.
