Skill Development Program on Pickle Preparation at NEHU, Tura Campus

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Date: Mar 22, 2023

BIRAC’s BioNEST Bioincubator (B3I) Facility, NEHU Tura Campus in collaboration with the Department of Rural Development and Agricultural Production (RDAP), conducted a hands-on training program on Pickle Preparation with sixteen rural entrepreneurs on March 22, 2023, at the BioNEST Incubation Suit & Horticulture Lab of Department of RDAP, NEHU, Tura Campus. The inaugural session of the training program was graced by the presence of Prof. Sujata Gurudev, Hon’ble Campus-in-Charge, NEHU, Tura Campus; Prof. D. C. Kalita, Department of RDAP and Dr Lolly S. Pereira, Associate Professor & resource person for the day. The proceedings began with a brief introduction from Ms Alva Margareth Kharkongor, Program Manager, B3I Facility and a welcome address by Dr Suman Kr. Nandy, Chief Executive Officer, B3I Facility, NEHU, Tura Campus. Dr Nandy continued to inform the participants about the handholding program of BioNEST and the unique facilities that could be availed by the entrepreneurs. This was followed by a pep talk from Prof. D. C. Kalita mentioned the importance of cost analysis in marketing. Dr Lolly S. Pereira, Associate Professor, Dept of RDAP and the Resource Person for the program lucidly briefed the gathering on the importance of the training, role of pickles as an appetiser in Indian households and sketched an outline of the pickle preparation journey to be conducted in two days. In the presidential address, Prof. Sujata Gurudev motivated the participants to utilise the opportunity created by the training and to start their own businesses and eventually expand it to different parts of the region. Further she underlined the strategic advantages native to the North-Eastern region and encouraged the entrepreneurs to be on their toes to grab them fully. Prof Gurudev further informed the gathering about the proposed marketing portal of NEHU, Tura Campus, which will provide a platform for commercialising products from the Garo Hills. The inaugural function ended with a vote of thanks from Ms. Remi Dey, Technical Associate of B3I Facility, NEHU, Tura Campus. 

Dr Pereira started the technical session with a thorough explanation of the procedure of pickle preparation, its prospects, quality control and legalities associated with marketing. In the next step, the participants were introduced to the ingredients of the pickle and briefed about their role in the recipe, for the taste enhancement and consistency of the pickle. Dr Pereira also informed precautionary measures to be adopted to avoid contamination and explained the natural preservation techniques to ensure year long shelf life of the prepared pickle without any synthetic preservatives.  The day one of the program ended with an applause from the participants, with a promise to practice the craft at home and to meet again on April 3^rd, 2023 for the next phase of the program.