LUDHIANA: Inmates of Ludhiana Women Central Jail learned methods of making jam and jelly from guava on Friday under a training programme for developing entrepreneurship, which is being run by Central Institute of Post Harvest Engineering and Technology (CIPHET).
This was the third such event organized by CIPHET with an objective to provide decent livelihood opportunities to inmates.
Senior Scientist from CIPHET Dr Ramesh Jhangra carried out the demonstration.
Those attending learnt the technique and raised questions regarding its feasibility as a business.
Guava jam can be made without adding pectin. That is a chemical used to provide thickness to jams.
The expert said pectin was available in plenty in guavas.
He said that starting small scale industry for production of jam and jellies was very easy. ''One can start this business with just Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000. No expensive equipment is required. Value addition tends to be almost double that of investment,'' he stated.
Dr Sangeeta Chopra, senior scientist at CIPHET, told inmates that anyone interested in starting their own business in food processing could contact the institute.
''We wish that some of you start it as occupation after your release from jail rather than limiting it to domestic use,'' she added. Deputy jail superintendent Snehjot Dhawan termed the training quite informative.