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This centre is processing honey and producing herbal products under the brand name
of ‘Vindhya Herbals’ for M.P. State MFP (trading & Development)
Co-operative Federation Ltd. , Bhopal . Honey is also being manufactured under the
brand name of ‘Vindhya Valley’ as a franchise of M.P. Khadi and Village
Industries Board (KVIB) Bhopal.
i) Procurement of raw material
Raw material of MAP and honey is procured primarily through the District MFP Unions,
which mop up the material through the collectors of Primary MFP Societies spread
all over the state. At times, this centre also encourages the procurement of MAP
through local farmers/growers. The raw material brought to the centre is subjected
to lab.tests. If, at all, requirements of this centre are not fulfilled by
these agencies then open tenders are invited form private parties/traders. In all
the above procurement procedures the raw material samples are subjected to all lab.
tests, before permitting the entry of raw material into the processing facility.
ii) Primary Processing
Grading and sorting of raw material is done. Then cleanining/washing is imparted
as per requirements of the commodity. The material is then dried by natural process
or artificial means.
In case of honey, after sieve filtration, it is blended in batches for handling
convenience and then stored in stainless steel silos/containers or polystyrene lined
cans for further processing.
iii) Secondary Processing
The different herbal products are made in various forms, as powders, granules, capsule,
extracts, oils and syrups etc. For making powders the raw material is first crushed
to smaller fragments and then sent to pulverisers by cold process. All norms of
hygiene and Good Manufacturing Practice are followed.
The entire process is undertaken under the strict vigil of Ayurvedacharyas (qualified
and experienced Ayurvedic doctors) and at times samples are also collected randomly
during various stages of processing and value-addition for lab. tests.
In case of Honey the raw honey is subjected to purification by an automatic plant
and further passed through high resolution filter-press. Then it is kept in
stainless steel containers for at least 15 days before packaging so as to eliminate
the presence of wax and air bubbles in traces. Before packaging, it is also subjected
to UV exposure so as to eliminate any presence of microbial load in the same.
iv)Value-addition and product manufacturing
Only the desired herbal products which have been duly licensed by FDA/Agmark certification,
are undertaken for manufacture by the traditional methodology like use of "Gajput
bhatti" using traditional fuel- cow-dung cakes/fuel wood. In some medicinal
formulations refining is carried out by pure cow-ghee, cow-urine etc.
v) Packaging
The herbal products are duly packed in water-proof edible quality polypropylene
containers, mouth sealed with multi-layered aluminium foil, capped & then labeled
as per prevalent drug rules and then shrink wrapped aesthetically to impart pilfer-proof,
water-proof sheathing.
The containers are then packed in virgin corrugated boxes, duly strapped and labeled.
For Honey bottles’ packaging much care is taken while packing to eliminate
any possible breakage during transportation.
QUALITY ASSURANCE
Before the consignment of raw material reaches the centre it
is duly subjected to all prescribed quality tests. During various operations
of processing too, the samples are taken and subjected to lab. tests. The entire
process is undertaken under the strict vigil of Ayurvedacharyas and at times samples
are also collected during various stages of processing and value-addition for lab.
tests.
The various precautionary measures pertaining to hygiene and medical check-up of
staff is also done at stipulated time intervals.
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