Tribal Women trained to make and market value added Food Products from Traditional Millets

With an objective to restore the forgotten benefits of millets and dispel ignorance that caused its disappearance as a staple diet the, Women’s Christian College (WCC), Chennai organized a two-day entrepreneurial workshop on millet based recipes for tribal women of Yercaud.

According to Dr. Annette Beatrice from WCC, Chennai, millets such as varagu, panivaragu and samai are grown in Yercaud but people are unaware of its use in different culinary recipes. The workshop aimed to impart skills in a variety of delectable recipes to suit different tastes and occasions. “The major thrust was to get the participants motivated to start millet based food businesses,” said Dr. Annette. 

Two faculty members includingDr Annette Beatrice and MrsHepzibah Charles along with 2nd year PG students and aPh.D Scholar from the Department of Home science gave hands on training on millet based recipes, packaging and labeling, costing and marketing and FSSAI licensing. Millet based savories and sweets such as varagu ribbon pakkoda, multi millet cake and halwa, kambukolukatai and samai noodles were few of the recipes demonstrated to the women. 

 “The participants were motivated to set up their own millet based food outlets and eateries. Millets are exceptionally good source of nutrients that can boost immunity, promote weight loss and reduce risk of non-communicable diseases,” said the organisors. Ignorance of these benefits has caused a shift of focus to revenue generating cash crops, they added. 

The students said that they were confident of putting into practice the techniques that were taught and they would be able to hone their culinary skills.Mr. Jayaprakash, Project Officer, SCINDEA, an organization working among tribal women said, they had supported the WCC team’s initiative by helping select the beneficiaries. “We will also engage in follow-up activities and ensure that a more number of the tribal woman trainees become entrepreneurs,” he said.