IMPHAL, April 12 � A two-day national conference on �Prospects and Challenges in Indigenous Foods and Drinks Sector� concluded at Central Agricultural University (CAU), Iroishemba here today. Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, attending the opening day as the chief guest, appealed for focus on how to preserve and promote the traditional foods and drinks.
The national conference was sponsored by Department of Commerce and Industries under the National Mission on Food Processing and organised by the Association of Food Scientists and Technologists (AFST), Manipur Chapter.
The 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 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.
The opening ceremony on Saturday was also attended by Vice Chancellor of CAU Prof M Premjit Singh, president of AFST Mysore Dr H Prathap Kumar Shetty and Prof JM Laishram, Dean of CAU.
