Solan: The Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry (UHF), Nauni has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with three Himachal based firms for transfer of technologies developed by it. The MoUs are part of the university’s efforts towards technology transfer to the ultimate users.
The three technologies-protocol for value addition of ginger and garlic; technical know-how for the establishment of apple processing industry and technology for the establishment of wild apricot kernel oil processing industry has been developed by Dr Devina Vaidya, Dr Manisha Kaushal and Anil Gupta, scientists of the Department of Food Science and Technology of the university. These technologies have been developed under the All India Coordinated Research Project on Post Harvest Engineering and Technology scheme of ICAR.
The first technology enables the effective utilization of ginger and garlic for the development of different value-added products. The researchers of the university have worked on complete product development and tried to resolve the technical problems faced by the entrepreneurs during the manufacturing of ginger garlic paste. The technology can prove to be a boon for the Sirmour belt of the state where the farmers often end up getting low prices for their produce during glut season. The MoU for transfer of this technology has been signed with Kasauli based enterprise Purva Food Industry. The company will use for the development of good quality ginger garlic paste in the state.
The second technology deals with the processing of apple fruits for further value addition. Presently, in some areas of the state, the unmarketable apple fruits are being used for juice extraction, fermentation etc without any pre-treatments resulting in a low-quality final product. Due to its poor quality, the product is not able to fetch optimum returns for the processors. The university has developed a protocol for the complete utilization of apple fruits for processing to overcome the above problems. This technology has been transferred to Solan based company, Wild Himalaya.
The third technology is for the establishment of wild apricot kernel oil processing industry. The farmers of Kinnaur, Chamba, upper Shimla and some parts of Mandi district are extracting apricot kernel oil by using traditional methods. However, due to the poor quality of oil, non-recognition of the nutritional profile among consumers, the farmers are not getting appropriate returns from their product. The university has been working on this technology for the past over 10 years and has developed a complete process protocol for the extraction of kernel oil. This technology has been transferred to Kinnaur based company Negi Enterprises located at village Urni in Tapri.
The MoUs were signed by Dr JN Sharma, Director of Research in the presence of Vice-Chancellor Dr Parvinder Kaushal, Deans, Directors and the scientists of the department. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Parvinder Kaushal congratulated the university scientists for developing technologies to tackle some of the problems of the industry and making their research available to the progressive entrepreneurs. Dr Kaushal added that besides technical expertise, the university will also help the firms to establish the enterprise. The companies will also acknowledge the university technology on their product label.
