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Wednesday, 14 March 2012

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Value addition to better market agricultural produce

The Post Harvest Technology Institute (IPHT) has introduced a large number of value addition technologies with the objective of creating a better market for agriculture produce and promote local food consumption, said Minor Export Crop Promotion Minister Reginald Cooray.

He was speaking at the PHTI Research Symposium held recently at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute.

"The lack of stability is a main problem in the agricultural sector. It is necessary to get the maximum use of the surplus of food. After reaping the harvest, farmers have to face a lot of difficulties to sell their produce at a good price. Nowadays, farmers are struggling to sell their paddy. As there is a bumper paddy harvest, prices have come down. The IPHT has introduced a number of methods to overcome this challenge," said the minister.

Addressing the occasion, Post Harvest Technology Institute Director Swarnashika Thilakaratne said with the rapid growth of the food production in the country, the Post Harvest Technology Institute has introduced a large number of new technologies.

"The Post Harvest Technology Institute has introduced rice-based value added food products as a solution to the rice surplus. They are products such as rice biscuits, rice bread, rice-based soup cubes, rice flakes etc. They have also introduced rice cream instead of ice cream," she said.

Most people refuse to eat ice cream due to lactose allergy and other reasons. Therefore, rice cream is a healthy alternative," she said.

She added that dehydration and fermentation of fruits and vegetables, vegetable based appetizer, tamarind, lime-based food products and many other local food products are introduced by the institute.

There is a huge demand in the Middle East for black limes. The institute has introduced special machines to dehydrate limes.

"The institute provides technical assistance to start self-employment ventures. Some families in the Ampara and Anuradhapura districts successfully engage in self-employment based on value addition food items. The IPHT is conducting a large number of training programmes," she said.

"We train about 6,000 people annually and we also conduct training programmes in universities and other institutions.

"The institute has introduced rice boiling machines and grain storage machines. The institute conducts 15 to 20 researches per year," she added.

 

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