National conference on foods and drinks begins

NNN Imphal, April 11 A two day national conference on ‘Prospects and Challenges in Indigenous Foods and Drinks Sector’ has started from today at the Central Agricultural University (CAU), Iroishemba. Deputy CM Gaikhangam, who attended the opening day as the chief guest, appealed all to focus on areas on how to preserve and promote the traditional foods and drinks.The national conference is being sponsored by Department of Commerce and Industries under the National Mission on Food Processing and is organised by the Association of Food Scientists and Technologists (AFST), Manipur Chapter. Addressing the gathering, Deputy CM mentioned about the wide array of indigenous foods and drinks that Manipur is having, and suggested that a new revolution should be started to modernise the indigenous foods and drinks. He further added that the items must be made commercially viable and should be exported to the rest of the country and abroad also. He also stressed on the need to retain and include maximum nutritional values to the foods. Later, the chief guest released a souvenir on ‘Prospects and Challenges in Indigenous Foods and Drinks sector’. The opening ceremony was also graced by Vice Chancellor of VC Prof M Premjit Singh; president of AFST Headquarter, Mysore Dr H Prathap Kumar Shetty and Prof JM Laishram, Dean of CAU. Uripok MLA L Nandakumar , which is the local MLA, also attended the function as an esteemed dignitary. During the national conference, resource persons and eminent agriculture scientists from the state and outside will deliver papers on the prospects and challenges in Indigenous Foods and Drinks Sector.