ITANAGAR, May 14: With a view to enhance the shelf-life and to improve the taste and texture of different traditional rich, millet, barley based alcoholic beverages of the State coupled with key aspect of commercialization, the Arunachal Pradesh State Council for Science & Technology (APSCS&T) executed a research & development (R&D) project in tandem with Assam’s Dibrugarh University (DU).
In this direction, a GoAP team led by Secretary Science & Technology Repo Ronya took a review of the completed project titled ‘Study on Traditional Alcoholic Beverages (Apong/Chang) of Arunachal Pradesh for enhancing Quality (Colour, Texture and Taste), Self-life and Commercialization’ in a meeting held at DU, Dibrugarh on Monday.
The GoAP team also comprised APSCS&T Jt Director Dr Debajit Mahanta and Dy Director Industries Goli Angu.
The R&D project formulated by APSCS&T was undertaken, carried out through active collaboration with Department of Chemistry, Dibrugarh University with the main objective towards increasing the shelf-life and improving the taste and texture of different traditional rich, millet, barley based alcoholic beverages of the State through scientific and qualitative optimization and developing business model for commercialization.
On the occasion, the genesis of the project was highlighted by Dr Mahanta, followed by a detailed technical presentation through a PPT by Dr Jitu Ranjan Chetia, Sr Instrumentation Officer, Dept of Chemistry (DU) & Co-PI of the completed project, in presence of Dr Surajit Borkotoky, Dean R&D, Dr Gitika Borah, HoD Chemistry, Dr Pradip Kr Gogoi, Prof (Retd.) and Principal Investigator of the completed project.
Continuing with the discussions, Secretary Ronya emphasized and suggested that while going for commercialization of the technology through prospective entrepreneurial development, the indigenous touch in the traditional alcoholic beverages of Arunachal Pradesh should be retained in terms of its taste, which would be an important criterion towards its wide acceptability by the local populace.
He further urged the Department of Industries (GoAP) for taking initiative towards promoting development of entrepreneurial ventures through prospective entrepreneurs in setting up of production and bottling plants.
DDI Angu viewed that the department of Industries can take the initiative in this regard on ‘pilot’ scale in collaboration with Chemistry Dept, DU and APSCS&T initially and also marketability approach for the products.
Further, Dr Borkotoky extended thanks to APSCS&T, Dept of Science & Technology, GoAP for the support and envisaged further R&D initiatives, collaborations.