Joseph Lawrence (centre) mentor, JM Bakers Academy with the would-be bakersfrom Meghalaya
The North-East is waking up to the clarion call of the bakery juggernaut rolling across the rest of India. A bakery skill development programme held in Meghalaya evoked zeal among the local populace.
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AT A GLANCE:
Venue: Community Hall, Ampati, situated in the South-West Garo Hills bordering Bangladesh. As many as 32 participants and guests took part in the inaugural function.
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It was the initiative taken by the Directorate of Commerce & Industries, Shillong, and the District Commerce & Industries Centre (DCIC), Tura, which garnered would-be bakers from the sub-Himalayan state to Ampati, situated in the South-West Garo Hills bordering Bangladesh. It is a scarcely populated upcoming city, without really having much infrastructure to support a bakery skill development programme. Unlike other cities in the state, there are no catering colleges, hotels or bakeries to support such programme there. But the choice of the venue, Community Hall in Ampati, was rather a testimony to the deep percolation of interest in bakery items in the region.
With the presence of a large contingent of police, armed forces and school children along with the local adult population, there is a captive market for fresh bakery products in Ampati district. The bread available in Ampati at present comes from faraway places like Guwahati days later. The programme had to be built up from the scratch, starting from buying a bakery oven and a mixer. These equipment, along with other tools, were transported in a van to Ampati. Raw materials, baking trays and moulds were provided by Daddy’s Bakery, Tura. A power generator was also installed at the venue.
Ram Singh, deputy commissioner of Ampati, who expediently gave all official permissions to conduct the programme, visited the venue and encouraged the participants to become entrepreneurs in the baking industry. The programme was inaugurated by Boro, additional deputy commissioner, Ampati. Joseph Lawrence, mentor, JM Bakers Academy, Coimbatore, presented the key note address. Sangma earlier welcomed the gathering. DFR Marak, functional manager, DCIC, delivered vote of thanks.
As many as 32 participants and guests took part in the inaugural function. Sangma thanked chief minister Mukul Sangma for his initiative in this programme. The candidates were presented with a tool kit for the workshop. On the first day, sweet buns, basic white bread, Swiss bread, whole wheat and multigrain breads with different moulding techniques were taught to the students.
On the third day, the products baked on the previous day was evaluated and distributed to the students. Puff pastry, Danish pastry, apple patties, banana rolls and donuts were produced. The students were actively engaged in manufacture of the products. Surprisingly, many of them were able to produce the breads at ease.
The fourth day saw several cake varieties like date and walnut cakes, marble cake, and X’mas fruit cake. There was improved confidense level among the students. The importance of the “touch and feel” effect was also emphasised.
On the fifth day, sponge cakes and varieties of cookies were produced by the students. Fresh pizza was produced with locally available vegetables. Since the Garo Hills has the ideal climate for chocolate making, chocolate melting technology was demonstrated to the students. Varieties of chocolates with nuts and fruits were produced.
On the final day, participants produced Swiss rolls, and pineapple and black forest cakes. They also produced very attractive chocolate gift boxes and presented them to the dignitaries. Marak, general manager, DCIC, explained the various schemes available for the entrepreneurs to start a micro and small-scale baking unit.
Certificates were presented to the participants by Boro, Ramesh Singh, additional superintendent of police,Tura and Lawrence. Students thanked the government for providing an opportunity to the budding entrepreneurs of Ampati to start a carrier.PR Marak, general manager, DCIC, other officials BB Shira, TR Marak, Sonn, and JT Sangma did the spadework to make the project a reality.
The officials are mulling to conduct similar programmes in other parts of Meghalaya too. “As the next step,the state government should provide a baking centre with commercial baking equipment for entrepreneurs to get trained and produce various bakery products according to the marketing needs in various districts of Meghalaya,” said Lawrence.
