The University of Horticulture Sciences, Bagalkot, is trying to minimize the post-harvest loss of mangoes by promoting the making of byproducts of unsold mangoes.
The university is offering training to people, mainly women, who wish to set up small business units for producing mango-based products.
“Karnataka has been growing and exporting varieties of mangoes. But with a lack of support to making by-products, around 30 per cent of fruits go to waste after the harvest. Karnataka alone produces around 20 lakh tonnes annually, and 30 per cent of its means that a sizable quantity goes unconsumed. This wastage could be reduced to a significant extent if we start preparing by-products,” said Bhuvaneshwari, assistant professor of Post Harvesting Department, of the university.
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With this in mind, the university is offering training to people who are willing to prepare at least 50 varieties of by-products using the fruit.
The byproducts include halwa, squash, jam, juice, chutney, pickle, barfi, cookies, biscuits.
Dr. Bhuvaneshwari said that the training will last between three days and a week, based on the number of products the student wish to learn to prepare.
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She said that the training is offered free and food will also be provided free during the training days.
Dr. Bhuvaneshwari informed that the by-products are in great demand mainly in multi-brand grocery shops in urban centre including in exclusive retain outlets where they are sold.
“By packing it, the same products could be sold from home itself, which many people would surely buy. One could transform the small business into a big business depends on the investment and marketing of the products,” Dr. Bhuvaneshwari said.
She added that with an initial investment of around Rs. 50,000 which also includes pulp extractor that cost around Rs. 15,000, a family could earn around Rs. 8,000-10,000 a month.
Dr. Bhuvaneshwari said that those interested persons could form a group a contact the university to undergo training.
For more details, Dr. Bhuvaneshwari could be contacted on 9008871581.
University is offering training to those
who wish to set up units to produce mango products