When figs turn rolls, bars

An initiative by a Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) to conduct an entrepreneurship advancement programme (EDP) on worth-addition to fig fruit crop through the pre-Covid period, and the fascination demonstrated by a couple enthusiastic women, have opened a new chapter in fig worth-addition in Karnataka.

In 2019, the KVK in Hagari of Ballari district had conducted an EDP on worth addition to the dry fruit. Hagari KVK had imparted instruction on the planning of fig bars and fig rolls right after revising the technological innovation designed by the Raichur-primarily based College of Agricultural Sciences (UAS).

Shilpa H, Scientist at KVK in Hagari, advised BusinessLine that the ‘Ballari red’ selection of fig is grown on about one,100 hectares in Ballari district. Of this, Kurugod taluk by yourself cultivates fig on about seven-hundred-800 hectares. However about one,800 ha was less than fig cultivation in the district prior to Covid, several farmers removed it from their land as the lockdown of 2020 affected the demand.

Women of all ages beneficiaries

However, two women beneficiaries of the EDP of a self-help team (SHG) from Kurugod – Sudha and Pooja – came forward to make use of the understanding they received in the EDP to put together worth-included solutions.

Originally, they started promoting the fig rolls and fig bars in their neighbourhood. Immediately after acquiring beneficial suggestions, they received FSSAI licence for their solutions and started branding and promoting them.

This entrepreneurial initiative by Sudha and Pooja produced other people in the region to look at these worth-included solutions out of fig. Shilpa said that about ten folks, who had instruction in fig worth-addition from KVK, have taken FSSAI licences now.

The creation of these worth-included solutions ranges from twenty kg to 100 kg a working day now.

When the fig fruit has a shelf-lifetime of two times, fig bars and fig rolls have shelf-lifetime up to six months, she said.

Ramesh BK, Head of KVK, Hagari, advised BusinessLine that his KVK imparted instruction to the intrigued business owners and helped them with handholding.

Because it was a uncomplicated technological innovation designed by UAS, Raichur, its adoption amongst these business owners was uncomplicated, he said.

Main challenge

Shilpa said that the worth-addition to fig has now elevated demand for fresh new fruits also. The farmers were being relying only on fresh new fruits before, as they did not assume of preparing any industrial item out of it, she said.

On the troubles to be tackled, she said the peeling of fruit skin necessitates handbook labour. Likely by the suggestions of consumers, the style of fig bars and fig rolls produced along with fig fruit skin are not that sweet when in comparison to these produced devoid of fig fruit skin.

However micro business owners do not deal with significantly difficulty as they peel fruit skin manually, the significant-scale producers are going through challenges. They would like to get a technological answer for this, she said.