Hazaribagh district administration is all set to manufacture unique flavours of jam, pickle, tea bags, soup and much more.
Deputy Commissioner Ravi Shankar Shukla said, “A manufacturing unit is being set up in the district where we will involve rural women in making jams and pickle of unique local produce like Mahua (Madhuca longifolia) and kudrum (red sorrel). This will not just help us bringing the best out of the local produce but at the same time help more women become self dependent.”
The work of rejuvenation of the building to match the standards of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) would be completed within a month after which production will begin.
Gaurav Jaiswal, district project manager of Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS) said, “The rejuvenation of building is costing around Rs 9 lakh while machines worth Rs 10 lakh are being installed. The entire project is funded by World Bank and AHF. However, if needed, funds will be added by JSLPS and district administration as well.”
Around 80 women of two blocks, Churchu and Chauparan are being given training in making of pickles for the last one year by JSLPS and Asian Heritage Foundation (AHF).
Jaiswal informed that the pickle made by the women has been displayed at various fairs and programmes of World Bank and AHF in Delhi and have been appreciated by the customers. “As all the products are entirely organic, customers’ response has always been positive. We are selling the product with brand name Jiyo,” he said. Once the manufacturing unit is set up, more women will be roped in for production of edibles and the varieties would also increase.
“Apart from pickles and jam we are also planning on production of packaged mushroom soup, tea bags and tomato ketchup as they are grown in abundance in Hazaribagh,” Jaiswal said.
The district is also focusing on lemongrass farming, which is likely to get not just national but international market. The farming is being done on around 20 acre land in Garu and Katkamsandi block. “There are plans to set up one manufacturing plant in each of the two blocks to extract slemongrass essence and essential oils. The demand of essential oil is global and in future we can think of a bigger market reach for the product,” Jaiswal said.
