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| Sunday, 24 November 2002 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Making the most of jak fruits by Sumanawanse Rajapakse, Pujapitiya Group Correspondent Bearing plenty in season, rotting under the trees... that was how the villagers of Batagalla thought of jak fruit for a long time. But, not any more. A sudden change has occurred - for the better, for though the trees still bear in plenty they no longer let the harvest of their labours go to waste. Instead they have learned to make the best of it, to preserve it for a time of 'need' furthermore, to earn some money out of it. Dehydrating jak, bread-fruit and other vegetables has now become the sole income earner of 30 households in the village. The project which was launched two years ago was the brainchild of Swarna Obeysekera, then District Secretary of Pujapitiya. With assistance from the Samurdhi Authority, the officials of the District Secretariat had conducted a training programme for Samurdhi recipients on dehydration of vegetables. Then, the project was implemented with the aid of Udarata Gemi Punaruttapana Kendraya (Centre for Rehabilitation of Highland Farmers) who helped purchase up to date equipment for dehydration of vegetables, worth Rs. 300,000 from the General Trading Corporation.Now, neither jak, yam, nor any other vegetable in the 67 grama niladhari divisions go waste. The surplus is collected and brought to Batagalla community centre where 30 women under the supervision of Agriculture Development and Research officer U.W.A. Wimalasuriya clean, blanch, dehydrate and pack them in presentable containers to be sold at markets in the vicinity. The project markets dehydrated jak segments and seeds, breadfruit, bitter gourd, ladies fingers, tomato, brinjal, manioc, ash plantain and carrot at present. They have a regular consumer base and the demand in increasing, said project sources. The project not only provides employment for those unemployed Samurdhi recipients but has inspired unemployed youth as a viable form of self employment. **** Boats out of jak segments Ingredients: Filling: Jak seeds (boiled and mashed) - 250 g (about 25 seeds), Green chilies (chopped) - 02, Onions - 50g Curry leaves - 04 sprigs, Vegetable oil - 2 tbl. sp , Salt, Pepper, Chili powder and juice of 01 lime for seasoning Boats: Large jak segments (cleaned) - about 30, Butter - 50g, For decorating: Jak seeds (boiled and finely mashed), - about 5 Butter- 2 tsp., Colouring - yellow/brown Method:Prepare the filling in the same way given above (for baskets). Any filling of choice could also be used. Cut about 20 jak segments vertically - each segment into three, in the shape of boats. With the rest of the segments cut triangles for sails. Deep fry in butter and keep aside for draining. Fill in the boats and cover with jak seed paste - finely mashed seeds mixed with butter, coloured suitably in yellow and brown. Fix the sails and serve. **** Planting ceremonies throughout the island The planting continues and planting ceremonies are being conducted throughout the island. Individuals and organisations interested in the project are requested to contact the Secretary NJDP, Sarath Amarakoon, Chief Administrative Officer ANCL - 429201 or Coordinating Secretary NJDP, Nihal Abeysinghe - 429268 or write to National Jak Development Project, C/o Silumina, Lake House, Colombo 10 for more details. About 2,000 jak saplings in good condition are available at a nursery in Talawatte, Matugama. Individuals and organisations interested in purchasing jak saplings are requested to contact Janaka Vitanage (01-817156) at the Green Movement of Sri Lanka. The NJDP, jak planting project is sponsored by Sevana Lotteries division of Sri Lanka Lotteries Board. * * ** More information on NJDP could be obtained from the website |
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