Vol. 7, Special Issue 6 (2019)
Double sweet potato grower’s income through value addition
Author(s): Dr. Nandana Kumari
Abstract: Bokaro district is famous as vegetable belt in Jharkhand state. In vegetable crops, among Root & Tuber group, sweet potato is major crop and heavily produced in Bokaro. In spite of heavy production, sweet potato growers are economically poor because they are forced to sell their produce at very low price i.e. maximum at the rate of Rs 8 to 10 per Kg. The primary reason behind this situation is our farmers have no knowledge about value addition or processing of sweet potato even at home scale basis. That’s why sweet potato remains still an unexploited crop When sweet potato is rich source of carbohydrates, starch, fibre, vitamins and minerals. So, it can be an important tool for tackling malnutrition and micronutrients problems in weaker section of the society. By keeping these points in consideration, an OFT was conducted in KVK, Bokaro, in which three treatments were taken, first as Farmers Practice(FP),second and third as Technological Option: I (T.O.I) and Technological Option: II (T.O.II). In F.P, farm women consume sweet potato just after boiling whereas in T.O.I and in T.O.II, farm women used sweet potato based nutritious and composite flour with different composition as formula I and formula II. After preparation of sweet potato based nutritious and composite flour having formula-I and formula-II, nutritive value, sensory evaluation, grading and cost analysis of all three treatments were done. Result of the OFT shown that T.O.I i.e. sweet potato based nutritious and composite flour having formula-I was found highest in nutritive value and in all six parameters of sensory evaluation (appearance, colour, texture, flavour, taste and overall acceptability).When laddoo and puwa was prepared by the use of this sweet potato based nutritious and composite flour having formula I, was liked very much by the farm women. Regarding cost, raw sweet potato price in local market is Rs 8 to 10 per Kg which is too low at present time whereas cost of sweet potato based nutritious and composite flour was Rs 70 per Kg and its shelf life is about three months at room temperature when kept in ordinary jar in home. Its preparation and processing is also very simple which farm women can do by their own at their home scale basis. Therefore, on one side, it is very good source of income for them and on other side, it will act as an important tool for eradication of malnutrition and micronutrients deficiency in rural areas especially among small children and reproductive women.
Pages: 541-546 | 421 Views 45 Downloads
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How to cite this article:
Dr. Nandana Kumari. Double sweet potato grower’s income through value addition. International Journal of Chemical Studies. 2019; 7(6): 541-546.
