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Canadian body selects UAS-D to develop novel de-husking millet machine
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Thursday, 02 February, 2012, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, Bangalore
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The University of Agricultural Sciences-Dharwad (UAS-D) has received a grant of Rs 350 crore from the Canadian International Food Security Research Fund (CIFSRF).
The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) are other agencies roped in for the three-year project.
The CIFSRF and Canada's McGill University selected the UAS-D to anchor the project and have also roped in non-governmental organisations (NGOs) including the Chennai-based M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) and the Dehradun-based Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organisation (HESCO) in the project.
The collaboration will be utilised to develop de-husking equipment for minor millets. The machine would be rolled out for the use of the food processing industry.
The key objective of the CIFSRF has been strengthening of the regional staple food grains in India for extending food security at the village level. In this regard, major growing regions such as Haveri (jowar) in Karnataka, Namakal (ragi) in Tamil Nadu, Koraput (ragi) in Orissa, and Rudraprayag (barnyard millet and haraka) in Uttaranchal, have been chosen for the millet project, which will receive technical support from McGill University.
Dr Nirmala Yenagi, professor and head, department of food science and nutrition, UAS-D, said, “With the help of McGill University, we have designed de-husking equipment. Also, as part of the project, we are rolling out food processing units for value addition to millets at all the project sites.”
“Along with food processing units, efforts are being made to link production and marketing to enhance the entrepreneurial leadership of women, by forming self-help groups (SHGs),” she added.
The officials from the CIFSRF were here in Karnataka to review the progress of the project led by one of the funding partners, David Malone, president, IDRC.
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