A five-day entrepreneurship skill development training for Farmer producer Organizations (FPOs) on Fruits and Vegetable Processing and their Value addition was organized by ICAR-KVK Peren in collaboration with ICAR Nagaland Centre, Meziphema organized from March 24 to 28, at ICAR Nagaland Centre, Medziphema.
The programme was conducted under the leadership and supervision of Dr. H. Kalita, Head of Regional Centre (HoRC), ICAR Nagaland Centre. Gracing the programme as chief guest, Deputy Commissioner, Peren Hiazu Meru, emphasised on entrepreneurship development especially by identifying youths, importance of capturing the local market for marketing of products, targeting offseason crop cultivation and to take up agriculture as business model.
He encouraged the participants to avail various government subsidy and welfare schemes like PMEGP, CMMFI, PMJJVY, Atal Pension Yogna, PM Surakhsha Bhima Yogna etc. He also addressed the importance of collaboration of different departments for the benefit of farming community of Peren district.
Dr. H. Kalita, (HoRC), ICAR Nagaland Centre and Course Director, in his presidential speech highlighted the importance of FPOs and its role in marketing of products. He advised the participants to work sincerely and in consultation with all the experts and assured for collaborative advanced trainings on branding, packaging and marketing for the FPOs.
The inaugural programme was chaired by Dr. L. Babita Devi, CTO (Animal Science) and Nodal Officer, FPO, who highlighted about the details of the programme. Dr. K. L. Meena, PS & Head, KVK Peren, delivered the welcome address.
During the training, four theory sessions and four practical sessions covering all the aspects of value addition in fruits and vegetables, sorting, packaging, labelling, branding and marketing channels and scopes were delivered by experts from NSRLM-Peren (Mr. Amos Newme), Ilandlo Services Pvt. Ltd, Dimapur Imtisunep Longchar, ICAR Nagaland Centre and KVK Dimapur.
11 numbers of value-added products (lemon and orange RTS, ginger candy, turmeric powder, green chillies and tree bean pickles, Soya milk and Tofu, dehydrated chayote) were prepared during the practical sessions under the guidance of Scientists (Drs.) Aabon W Yanthan, S. Ruth Assumi, Azeze Seyie and Chingakham Sima Chanu of ICAR Nagaland Centre.
The training programme was attended by 23 participants from four FPOs of Peren district under KVK Peren as CBBO. Certificates and inputs like packaging materials was distributed at the valedictory session.
The programme aimed to make the members of four FPOs aware about the importance of entrepreneurship development through agriculture, their value addition and market linkage, under FPO scheme.