Guwahati, March 10: Micro and small food processing units in Assam are rustling up a “natural” success recipe by focusing on traditional ingredients and minimum use of preservatives to come up with an array of healthy ready-to-serve products.

Madhu’s Food Products, for instance, has tasted success with the roselle (tengamora in Assam) jelly and ou tenga (elephant apple) squash produced at its Lokhra unit.

“We have over 50 products in the market. Of them, roselle jelly and ou tenga squash are standing out for their aroma and unique taste. As a matter of fact, we do not use any preservatives, chemicals or colours in the roselle jelly. That’s to make sure the product retains its health benefits. Bel (wood apple) and kordoi (carambola) squash also are on the much-preferred list. Among the pickles, bhut jolokia and bamboo shoot are in good demand. We have endeavoured to ensure quality in our products with hygiene a priority in our unit,” said Madhumita Pathak of Madhu’s Food Products.

Given the acceptability of products that have less or no chemicals, the firm also plans to go organic in the near future. “We get most of our fruits and vegetables from farmers in and around the city. But we also have plans to go organic by setting up a farm of our own. But, of course, the cost factor has to be taken into account. Currently, our profit margins are in the vicinity of 30 per cent,” Pathak said.

Likewise, Meghalee Food Products, a Jorhat-based firm, has come up with kuji thekera (garcina cowa) juice as a healthy ready-to-serve product. “Kuji thekera juice was launched in the market last year. The response has been good and we will soon promote its health benefits. Tomato garlic sauce was introduced in January this year and since it has no preservatives or oil, we think it should do well in the coming months,” said Achyut Kumar Bora, co-proprietor of the firm set up in 1997.

Kamdhenu Industries, a micro-food processing unit at Basistha, has an average monthly turnover of around Rs 2 lakh during the peak season (June-July) from its sale of pickles, squashes and jellies. Like most, Kamdhenu’s bhut jolokia and bamboo shoot pickles sell the most.

“During the off season (December-February), the monthly sales are lower, averaging Rs 80,000 per month. As of now, shortage of trained manpower is an impediment,” said Mala Moni Hazarika, proprietor of Kamdhenu Industries.

The prospects of the food processing industry, which has been growing at an average rate of seven per cent, are good. Sources said the industry was likely to register a growth of 10 per cent in the near future. In the Northeast, the small scale and unorganised sector market is a huge one. Hence, micro and small food processing units here have a vital role to play.

According to figures with the department of industries and commerce, Assam, there are 1,552 fruit processing units in the state (as on September 1, 2012) with an investment of approximately Rs 135.94 crore and employing around 7,765 people. According to records with Food Products Order, 2011, Assam has 58 registered food processors out of 112 in the Northeast.

“The Northeast has a huge potential in food processing. The market in the region is estimated to be more than Rs 100 crore in this sector,” S. Bhattacharjee, managing director of Neramac (North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation), told The Telegraph. “The government is trying hard to initiate this sector in a big way by introducing the National Mission on Food Processing.”

Marketing and distribution, however, is an area that the unorganised sector still needs to work on.

Set up four years back, Gouri Food Processing Centre, Jalukbari, which has a capacity of producing 150kg of pickle on an average every day, plans to gear up its distribution system.

“Apart from lower Assam, we market our pickles in central Assam and Barak Valley as well. We will look to strengthen our distribution network soon. Of the 19 varieties of pickles we produce, mixed mango, chilli and olive top the sales list. We use only vinegar and salt as preservatives,” P. Goswami, proprietor of the unit, said.