Sealing machine handed over to Van Dhan Vikas Kendra

A sealing machine was donated to Van Dhan Vikas Kendra to enhance packaging for tribal forest products in Dakshina Kannada.

A sealing machine worth ₹41,000 funded by the Directorate of Cashew Research, Puttur, was handed over to the Prakruthi Van Dhan Vikas Kendra (VDVK), Aranthodu, Sullia taluk, Dakshina Kannada recently.

The VDVK is a centre for skill upgrading and capacity building for tribal forest gatherers, established under the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana.

T.J. Ramesh, Senior Scientist and Head, ICAR-Krishi Vignana Kendra, Dakshina Kannada, who facilitated the handing over of the machine, said that the VDVK at Aranthodu consists of 15 to 20 Self-Help groups with around 300 members, with a majority of them from tribal communities, including the Koraga community, classified under the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group category.

The VDVK markets non-timber forest products such as wild honey and other products like pandanus leaf mats, amla products, and butti (traditional crafts). The sealing machine that was handed over will help improve the packaging of products and increase their market value, he said.

Earlier, Koraga community members had been trained in reviving their traditional cultural products, which were at risk of disappearing due to urbanisation.

The machine was handed over through the efforts of Ashwathi Chandrashekhar, an Agricultural Extension Scientist at ICAR-DCR, Puttur, and Venkatasubramanian, director, ICAR-ATARI, Bengaluru, handed over the machine, Mr. Ramesh said.