PANAJI
Students of the Goa College of Agriculture have teamed up with a women’s self-help group (SHG) in Moira and conducted a practical showcase of innovative, value-added food products made from the GI-tagged Myndoli banana indigenous to the Bardez village.
The workshop drew 10 women, who were taught to prepare five easy-to-make products -- banana sheera, buns, fritters, shake, and jam.
The women praised the recipes as being both healthy and appealing to children, making them ideal for home consumption as well as for launching small-scale ventures.
An official of the Agriculture College said it was an attempt to blend academic knowledge with community enterprise. “It also demonstrates how a famed local crop like the Moira banana can potentially boost entrepreneurship among women and also promote better nutrition,” the official said.
The Myndoli banana enjoys GI tag protection and the Moira SHG has decided to build a shared brand and expand into small-batch commercial ventures, he added.
Although it is hardly grown in Moira village, the Myndoli banana is a widely cultivated crop in Pernem, Bicholim, and some villages of Bardez. They are unique and have a tusk-shaped appearance. A similar variety has also made its mark as a preferred cash crop in Kerala, where banana chips are a popular snack choice.
