Rajkot: The aroma of fish samosas, burgers and chutneys from the shores of Veraval has wafted all the way up to the Himalayas. And soon, you are likely to find these value-added fish products on store shelves in Kashmir.
Recently, a team of students and faculty members of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-K) visited Veraval after learning about the success story scripted by nearly 300 women of Sagar Manthan Machhimar Utthan Mandal, a cooperative society. These women of the Kharva community have been making and selling over a dozen products including fish pizzas, cheese balls, samosas, burgers, sandwiches, cutlets, pickles, chutneys, and other ready-to-cook fish meals.
The cooperative society and the varsity have decided to join hands and sell ‘Made in Veraval’ fish products in Kashmir, under the cooperative’s brand name, on franchise model.
What’s more, the Veraval women will also share their formula so that the same delicacies can be made from freshwater fishes in Kashmir.
Faisal Rashid, assistant professor-cum-scientist, post-harvest technology said, “We are highly impressed by the work done by these women. We want to set up their franchise in Kashmir. We will start with Srinagar and expand to other districts like Anantnag and Baramulla.”
Rashid, who was part of the 35-member group, said, “Learning how to make such value-added fish products will help generate employment for locals in Kashmir.”
Ashfauq Aga, assistant professor, aquaculture engineering, added, “People engaged in the fish industry in Kashmir do not have the knowledge to make value-added products. We want to help students passing out of the university to open stores of fish products in various parts of the state like Sopore and Pulwama. There are a large number of hotels and tourist spots where our students can sell these products.”
Amrin Shabir, a student of the varsity said “By setting up such franchises, we can generate opportunities for Kashmiri women to earn more profit from fish.”
Shailesh Suyani, president of the cooperative society, added, “We can send soup powder, cheese balls, ready-to-cook products like samosas, noodles, and papads directly to Kashmir for sale. We can also share the formula for other products. This, in turn, will generate more income for our women.”