In the presence of Additional Chief Secretary, Sugar Industry and Cane Development U.P. a Memorandum of Agreement was signed between Uttar Pradesh Council of Sugarcane Research, Shahjahanpur and Smt Suchitra Singh, Sparsh Fellowship regarding the production and marketing of Shree Anna-based, value-added jaggery products. Under which Sugarcane Research Council will provide technical knowledge, scientific support and basic infrastructure of laboratory etc. for preparation of products to Mrs. Suchitra Singh.
Mr. Bhoosreddy explaining about the event said that millets are being promoted by both the Government of India and the State Government. This being its importance year has been declared as the International Year of Millets by U.N.O. to increase the use of millets in diet as value added products in everyday life of the people. Sugarcane Research Council, Shahjahanpur and Smt Suchitra Singh working in BIRAC Sanstha under Sparsh Fellowship signed a memorendum of agreement. He told that at present women, especially adolescent girls are suffering from many diseases due to deficiency of micronutrients. In the past, coarse cereals like jowar, bajra, ragi etc. were consumed in abundance in the form of halwa, khichdi etc., which fullfieled the requirement of micronutrients to the body. But now it is not normally included in the diet, in view of which at present this Shri Anna based Jaggery may be a good alternative suppliment enriched with test of Jaggery and quality of millets.
He said that jaggery itself is full of nutritious and medicinal properties and its nutritional value will increase further by mixing coarse grains. Shri Anna based Jaggery will play an important role in meeting the deficiency of iron element in pregnant women. Preparation of Shri Anna based Jaggery may be easily adopted as a cottage industry at the village level which will be not only helpful in removing the nutritional disorder of the villagers but be a source of income also. This product will be helpful in removing nutritional disorders specially in areas where there is a health problem in children and women due to malnutrition, This product may also be prepared from jaggery and Shree Anna including spices like ginger, tulsi, mullethi etc. which are having other medicinal properties. The product will be made available to the general public in the form of bars, granules and powder in small packs, so that it can be easily used by the consumers. A detailed presentation of the agreement was given by Suchitra Singh. In this sequence, he also told that women self-help groups formed under the sugarcane department will be able to earn profit by contributing in the manufacturing and marketing of these value-added products.
On the occassion, Director U.P. Council of Sugarcane Research, Shahjahanpur Dr. Sudhir Shukla, Additional Sugarcane Commissioner, Shri V.K. Shukla, Additional Sugarcane Commissioner (Society) Dr. VB Singh, Joint Sugarcane Commissioner (Purchase) Shri Vishvesh Kanaujiya and Scientific Officer Sugar Chemistry, Dr. Priyanka Singh as well as other concerned officers were present.
