Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (CCSHAU) on Thursday inked four agreements with a private sector company for the preparation of bajra biscuits and cakes, extruded snacks and beverages.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between SS Siwach, director, research, CCSHAU, and Anurag Sharma of DKS Incorporates in the presence of university vice-chancellor KS Khokhar here.
A spokesperson said that under the pact, the company would use food product technologies developed by foods and nutrition department and centre of food science and technology of the university for the preparation of bajra biscuits, bajra cakes, extruded snacks and beverages (two variants each), besides shelf-stable bajra flour and Brahmi biscuits.
The vice-chancellor expressed the need for the promotion of processing as well as value addition technology in agriculture. "Only 7% of the agriculture produce is being processed in the country, while 3% is given value addition. This is quite less for the economic benefit of farmers," the V-C said.
He further said that the scope of export of agricultural produce from the country was little, as nearly 98% of the output was consumed in the domestic market only. In the 12th Five-Year Plan, the focus of the government would be on creating storage facilities for which primary processing at the field level would be most essential, Khokhar added.
More than 110 technologies developed by various departments of the CCSHAU had been identified for commercialisation. Out of these, 27 had been commercialised so far, the spokesperson added.