Bhubaneswar: The Directorate of Horticulture, under the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment (DA&FE), organised a two-day training-cum-workshop on the Odisha Jackfruit Mission.
The event, held on November 30 and December 1, at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Horticulture, Deras, brought together stakeholders from across the state and beyond to explore innovative opportunities in the jackfruit sector.
The workshop witnessed active participation from representatives of three Technology Incubation Centers (TICs) located in Koraput, Kandhamal, and Keonjhar, along with officials from DA&FE, ORMAS, ICAR-IIHR (CHES), and the Technical Support Unit, Palladium. These TICs play a crucial role in promoting entrepreneurship and innovation within the jackfruit value chain, particularly in rural areas.
Industry specialists and master trainers from Kerala, renowned for their expertise in jackfruit processing, conducted training sessions. They guided participants in creating various value-added jackfruit products, including chips, jams, pickles, and frozen items, showcasing the immense potential of jackfruit as a versatile raw material for the food industry.
A key highlight of the workshop was the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between the Directorate of Horticulture and leading food companies — Artocarpus Foods Pvt Ltd and Nutritivo Food Products LLP. These partnerships aim to empower the TICs by offering specialised training programmes and facilitating market linkages for jackfruit-based products.
The MoUs are expected to enhance the capabilities of FPOs (Farmer Producer Organisations) and local entrepreneurs, enabling them to enter larger markets with competitive, high-quality products. This initiative aligns with the broader goals of the Odisha Jackfruit Mission to establish the state as a significant player in the national and international jackfruit industry.
