SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Feb 7: Sugarcane ice cream and herbal tea from an Israel-trained farmer have become a hot cake in the Agriculture Fair-cum-Exhibition organised by the district agriculture department at the District Board Ground.
Though 30 stalls of different institutions and individuals were set up in the ‘Mela’, sugarcane ice cream and sugarcane herbal tea of farmer Kamal Mahto were the centre of the attraction for visitors.
Most of the visitors, including administration officers, Additional Collector Binod Kumar, and District Board chairman Sharda Devi, were also attracted to these new items and highly praised the test and quality of products.
Trained farmer Kamal Mahto
Kamal Mahto (34), a Khonathi Panchayat resident under the district’s Baghmara block, is a trained farmer who has launched both products. He was one of the members of the farmers’ group whom the Jharkhand government had sent Israel for 15 days of training in 2019.
After returning from Israel, Kamal Mahto started organic farming on 10 acres of land in Matari and launched products.
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“I had not heard about sugarcane ice cream. But when I saw and ate it was unique and tasty. I ate on the spot in the ‘Exhibition’ and took away for the house,” said KK Sunil.
He added that it tested differently from the one available in the market and was cheaper, too (Rs 15). Sugarcane ice cream can be stored in the fridge for at least 45 days.
Kamal Mahto said his sugarcane ice cream has become popular in the region, and now a big party has hired him to install a sugarcane ice cream stall at the marriage ceremony.
Herbal sugarcane tea
The herbal sugarcane tea of Kamal Mahto also hogged the limelight. Kamal Mahto said he does not use the leaf in tea and brews it by mixing cloves, small cardamom, black cardamom, lemongrass, Sonth, and cinnamon.
Shailesh Ravel (50), a posh Bank More market area resident, highly praised the herbal team of Kamal Mahto and said that he had never drunk such testy tea in his life so far. “I drank 3 cups of tea continuously and wanted more. Price (Rs 10), quality, and quantity were all attractive, which drew people to the stall,” said Shailesh Ravel.
Kamal Mahto has also installed his tea stall in Rajganj on the side of inter-state GT Road and has become famed in the region.
