MFPI sanctions new project to TNAU

Coimbatore, May 16 (UNI) The Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MFPI) has sanctioned a new project on 'Development of Process for Exploring the Possibilities of Utilisation of Processing Waste from Fruit Crops' to the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) for a period of two years from 2008.

In a TNAU press release here today, Dean (Horticulture) D Veeraragavathatham said post harvest loss from fruit crops was valued over Rs 20,000 million annually. The utilisation of fruits and vegetables for processing purpose was only to the extent of 1.8 per cent in India, while it ranges between 40 to 60 per cent of the total production in the US, Australia, Brazil and Israel.

The processing units here had no organised methods of waste disposal. Most of the solid wastes were a rich source of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals and fibres, the release added.

These materials would be effectively utilised for the preparation of by-products like starch, fat, pectin, syrup and alcoholic beverages, he said.

The Dean added that from the 0.3 million tonnes of dry mango kernels available per year, 30,000 tonnes of mango fat worth Rs 200 million could be obtained.

Preparation of value added products from fruit wastes and evaluation of by-products would be done for their better use either for human consumption or for cattle and poultry feed, he added.

UNI KS GKT SW BST1055