When figs turn rolls, bars

An initiative by a Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) to perform an entrepreneurship enhancement programme (EDP) on value-addition to fig fruit crop all through the pre-Covid period, and the curiosity shown by a couple of enthusiastic women of all ages, have opened a new chapter in fig value-addition in Karnataka.

In 2019, the KVK in Hagari of Ballari district experienced performed an EDP on value addition to the dry fruit. Hagari KVK experienced imparted training on the planning of fig bars and fig rolls immediately after revising the technological innovation designed by the Raichur-based University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS).

Shilpa H, Scientist at KVK in Hagari, explained to BusinessLine that the ‘Ballari red’ wide range of fig is developed on close to 1,a hundred hectares in Ballari district. Of this, Kurugod taluk by yourself cultivates fig on close to 700-800 hectares. Even though close to 1,800 ha was below fig cultivation in the district prior to Covid, many farmers taken off it from their land as the lockdown of 2020 affected the need.

Girls beneficiaries

Nonetheless, two women of all ages beneficiaries of the EDP of a self-aid group (SHG) from Kurugod – Sudha and Pooja – arrived ahead to make use of the information they got in the EDP to get ready value-additional solutions.

In the beginning, they started off advertising the fig rolls and fig bars in their neighbourhood. After getting good suggestions, they got FSSAI licence for their solutions and started off branding and advertising them.

This entrepreneurial initiative by Sudha and Pooja created other folks in the location to seem at these value-additional solutions out of fig. Shilpa mentioned that close to 10 persons, who experienced training in fig value-addition from KVK, have taken FSSAI licences now.

The generation of these value-additional solutions ranges from twenty kg to a hundred kg a working day now.

Though the fig fruit has a shelf-everyday living of two times, fig bars and fig rolls have shelf-everyday living up to 6 months, she mentioned.

Ramesh BK, Head of KVK, Hagari, explained to BusinessLine that his KVK imparted training to the fascinated business owners and aided them with handholding.

Due to the fact it was a easy technological innovation designed by UAS, Raichur, its adoption among these business owners was simple, he mentioned.

Significant obstacle

Shilpa mentioned that the value-addition to fig has now elevated need for fresh fruits also. The farmers have been relying only on fresh fruits earlier, as they did not feel of making ready any industrial merchandise out of it, she mentioned.

On the difficulties to be tackled, she mentioned the peeling of fruit pores and skin requires manual labour. Going by the suggestions of consumers, the style of fig bars and fig rolls created together with fig fruit pores and skin are not that sweet when when compared to those people created without fig fruit pores and skin.

Even though micro business owners do not deal with substantially difficulty as they peel fruit pores and skin manually, the big-scale producers are struggling with troubles. They would like to get a technological option for this, she mentioned.