CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication & Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR), New Delhi,organised a brainstorming workshop on “Socio-economic impact of CSIR food &agri-technologies: A dialogue with stakeholders”.
During her welcome address, Prof. Ranjana Aggarwal, Director, CSIR-NIScPR,shared valuable insights on the significance of identifying gaps in the transfer of innovative technologies from CSIR laboratories to society at the grass root level. The agriculture sector plays a critical role in the socioeconomic development of our country. Adopting innovative food and agri-technologies can lead to increased productivity, better crop yields and improved quality of agricultural produce.
Prof. Aggarwal highlighted the importance of considering factors such as innovativeness, technologies' strength, and stakeholders’ opinions to bridge the gaps between technology development and its practical implementation. This is essential to ensure that the benefits of scientific research and technological advancements reach the intended end-users promptly and efficiently.
To achieve this, it is necessary to have a multi-disciplinary approach that also involves different stakeholders such as researchers, policymakers, farmers, firms and entrepreneurs. She added that the dialogue during the workshop would help identify and address the various barriers that hinder the successful transfer and adoption of innovative food and agri-technologies, and consequently contribute to the socio-economic development of our country.
Briefing on an overview of the project, Dr L Pulamte, Principal Investigator and Sr Principal Scientist, CSIR-NIScPR, highlighted the background and objectives of the project, such as employment generation, income generation, contribution to the rural economy and women empowerment, import substitution, export contribution and new business opening for the users. He emphasised the need to assess the benefits of public funding to CSIR for research and its commitment to the social cause. The assessment would provide insights into the costs and benefits of developing technologies, and also the status of the fulfilment of intended purposes of technology development.
Mr Mahesh RV, President of Spirulina Foundation, Tumkursaid that after submitting his dissertation on Spirulina production in 2010, founded a company, and has tied up with JSW Foundation and Welcome Foundation. He has served 15,000 to 100,000 malnourished children at an NGO and has set up 30 Self Help Groups (SHGs) in different parts of India. Triggered by his initiative, the Karnataka state government launched a state budget scheme to provide Spirulina to all malnourished children. His organisation, Mothers against Malnutrition, follows the concept of the 6 Ls (Local Problems, Local Solutions, Leading to Livelihood, to Local Ladies).
Mr Suresh KS, ShreShridhareshwara Coconut Products, Mysuru,started value addition as a coconut farmer when coconut prices dropped. His organisation aims to provide quality coconut value-added products, including virgin coconut oil by CSIR-CFTRI, Mysuru,thetechnology using the cold-processed centrifugal separation method. They conduct research and development to innovate new coconut products and prioritise updating and upgrading.
Mr Pranjal Baruah, CEO/General Secretary, Mushroom Development Foundation, Guwahati,started growing mushrooms in 1995 and trained 1,200 female farmers on mushroom cultivation, production and marketing. He also formed mushroom growing clusters in different parts of the country.
Dr Mahesh Gupta of CSIR-IHBT, Palampur, and DrJatinKalita of CSIR-NEIST, Jorhat, gave solutions to stakeholders' problems. DrNavin Kumar Rastogi and Dr SS Mamatha of CSIR-CFTRI briefly explained the technologies available in their lab and also suggested solutions to stakeholders' problems.
Ms Toko Menu Likha and threeother women entrepreneurs from Arunachal Pradesh shared their experience with vermicompost production and highlighted the challenges of marketing, customising technology, importing equipment and financial issues.
Anita Kataria, representing Neoconcept Enterprises in New Delhi, presented her daughter JoshitaKatariaand discussed their Dosa making machine. She highlighted the valuable points of their machine and also mentioned that CSIR-CFTRI had taken their chapatti machine. Joshita compared the two technologies and concluded by saying thatDosa demand is less in the North India region compared to the South region, and the Chapati machine is quite popular in North India.
Mr Lakhvinder Singh Chhina from Singh Agritech Pvt. Ltd,Kashipur, expressed his gratitude to IHBT-Palampurand shared hisopinion on hand-holding support in transferring the canning technology for ready-to-eat foods that are chemical and preservative-free. Hereported having produced and supplied a large quantity of these foods to the local market. He also suggested connecting with hospitals to provide canned khichdi to patients who are unable to consume a proper meal. Additionally, he shared his successful experience of exporting these products to Canada.
Dr Debajit Mahanta, the Project Director of APCS&T in Itanagar, shared his experience on challenges he faced in obtaining raw materials for the high-value commercial banana fibreextraction and product development, as well as the agro-technologies of citronella and lemongrass. He obtained licenses from CSIR-NEIST and provided 5000 dwarf plants to various districts in Arunachal Pradesh. Additionally, he conducted ten awareness training workshops for groups of entrepreneurs, self-help groups, and farmer's association groups.
Sunil S of Bhavani Industries in Mandya, Karnataka, shared his experience with dhal milling machinery. In 2001, his father and uncle obtained a license from CSIR-CFTRI and sold the machinery under the Karnataka government subsidy. They also incorporated customer feedback into the design of the machines. The machines are versatile and can be used for a range of dhal milling applications.
Overall, the workshop was a successful event connecting various stakeholders across the country in a hybrid mode. The workshop concludedwith a vote of thanks by Dr Suman Ray, Principal Scientist, CSIR-NIScPR.
