Baripada fruit canning unit in limbo

Mayurbhanj district has a natural habitat for many varieties of vegetables and fruits where guava, sour orange, litchi, mango, jackfruit and various kinds of berries are produced in plenty.

Sensing this, the JB Patnaik Government during the 1980s had taken an initiative of setting up two district level fruit canning centre, the one at Jashipur managed by the OFDC and the other at Baripada under the control of the Horticulture Department.

The Baripada canning centre earlier located at Badbazar area near the Mayurbhanj palace was much in demand. Located in a posh area, it was frequented by people to see its several products like squash, jam, jelly etc.  This was later however shifted to dingy lanes of Station Bazar, away from public gaze.  The Deputy Director of Horticulture though controls it but efforts were taken to keep the canning centre away from the public eye over these years for reasons best known to the authorities only.

Now the same has been located inside the office premises of the horticulture office with zero activity.  Earlier, people used to prepare jam, jelly, squash and bring particular fruits like guava, mango, berries etc but now the same is not happening.

''I once went to canning centre with 10 kg tomatoes for sauce, but the staff of the centre quoted too much price for it,” said Rajlaxmi Kar, a housewife of Station Bazar area, where earlier this canning centre was located. She pointed out that as the Government provides everything from machinery to manpower to broaden its activity, it is lamentable that a few staff members continue to non-cooperate.

Earlier the prices were nominal. But these days they are quoting too high, said said Mrutunjay Mohapatra, another resident, adding that it was better to buy the products from market than prepare them at the canning centre.  Though the State horticulture mission has broadened its activity with massive funds but clipping the wings of canning centre looks unfortunate.

Deputy Director Horticulture DD Patra, when asked, said it is true there is staff crunch in the unit but within a month everything will be set right.