Potentials for Fresh and Processed Food Products of North East Region

Dr. Ananta SaikiaProfessor

Department of HorticultureAssam Agricultural University

Jorhat 785013

Fruits in sufficient supply are Banana, Pineapple, Oranges, jackfruit (garcinia, pear, plum, passion fruit in specific regions)

Fruits of potential --- minor fruits like carambola, leteku, paniol etc.

Vegetables in sufficient supply are cole crops, tomato, brinjal, okra, cucurbits

All the post-harvest operations are performed under one roof

Need for establishment of pack houses in production zones

Cold chains to be maintained to reduce losses after harvest

Pack house

Pineapple (Ananus comosus)

Canned slices Juice concentrate Pulp Juice Jam

Banana (Musa sps.)

Highest acreage in the region Products like chips, pulp, juice can

be produced

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)

Pulp Juice Fruit bars Dried jackfruit flakes, powder Jam Pickle

Carambola (Averrhoea carambola)

Canned slices Dehydrated slices Paste Jam Juice Pickle

Rich in anti-oxidants Dehydrated slices Juice

Garcinia (Garcinia sps.)

Pickle Pulp Powder

Jalphai (Elaeocarpus floribundaus)

Fresh waxed fingers Canned ginger slices Dried ginger Paste Powder Crystallized ginger

Ginger

Turmeric

Fresh fingers Dried fingers and slices Paste Powder

Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa)

Dehydrated calyces Juice Pickle Jelly

Popped/puffed/flakes Ready made breakfast mix

Breakfast cereals

Several communities with their traditional techniques of making wines/rice beers

Vinegars can be prepared with required scientific interventions

Natural vinegars

Natural food colorants

Several fruits and vegetables can be used for color extraction

Technologies available from AAU

Large acreage in Nagaland Pulp, juice can be prepared

Passion fruit

Bhut jolokia (Capsicum chinense)

Largely cultivated in Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh

Being exported to more than 25 countries from India in several processed forms

Contract and captive farming required for vegetables and fruits

Needs higher investment

IQF products

Minimally processed products Promising fruits are pineapple,

jackfruit, oranges Vegetables like cucumber, tomato,

cole crops onions, garlic, ginger are good candidate

Technologies available from AAU

Fresh cut fruits and vegetables

Vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower, carrot, chillies can be dehydrated

Can be processed to produce powder, flakes etc.

Dehydrated vegetables

Local fruits and vegetables can be pickled

North East is known several unique ways of making pickles

Good products can be manufactured through scientific intervention

Pickles

Thank you