A former IT professional from Goa has formulated a herbal cola from agro waste of the nutmeg fruit. Once largescale production of the herbal cola begins, it is expected to provide an additional income to farmers growing the fruit.
Sachin Rane stepped in when the Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB) was looking for entrepreneurs who could develop a process to make commercially viable products using nutmeg fruit extract.
The ICAR-CCARI (Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute), Ela, Old Goa, had invented a process to make use of the nutmeg apple, which is normally discarded by farmers after taking the two components of the fruit that are used as spice. The biodiversity board took the process from ICAR-CCARI in a bid to find a profitable solution for farmers.
The nutmeg apple concentrate extraction process involves a portable unit that will allow Rane’s company, Team24 Foods and Beverages, to eventually go to farmers’ doorstep to derive the extract. The production of the drink for commercial sale is expected to begin during the next nutmeg season, in June 2023.
Source: goa.news