Nagaland University trains farmers on innovative agricultural practices

Dimapur: Nagaland University organised a 10-day farmers’ training programme on the extraction and value addition of non-conventional banana fibre to empower Naga farmers.

The training, conducted by the Agricultural Engineering Department in collaboration with Science & Technology Intervention in the North Eastern Region (STINER), SAS, Nagaland University, Medziphema campus, and funded by ICAR-National Institute of Fiber Engineering and Technology (NINFET), Kolkata, began on November 13.

It aimed to equip local farmers with innovative agricultural practices, a varsity release said on Monday.

During the inaugural programme, Project PI Prof. Khan Chand provided a brief overview of the project and highlighted the benefits of eco-friendly banana fibres. Drawing on his extensive experience in food processing, he explained the journey of banana fibre from extraction to marketable products.

A total of 25 local farmers participated in the inaugural session. The programme emphasised the importance of adopting sustainable and innovative technologies in agriculture to uplift rural farmers.

The interactive session highlighted the potential of banana fibre as an eco-friendly alternative for various industries and encouraged participants to acquire new skills for economic growth.

During the training, participants received hands-on guidance on the efficient extraction of banana fibre and the sequential processes required to convert this natural resource into marketable products.

This initiative aims to enhance value addition and generate alternative livelihoods for the farming community.

Such programmes seek to bridge the gap between advanced scientific research and its practical application at the grassroots level, fostering community development and entrepreneurship among local farmers.