With a major focus being extensively on Agri entrepreneurship and Agri marketing, State Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institute (SAMETI) organised three days trainers’ training program on agricultural marketing & micro finance from October 24 to 26.
The training was given to ATMA, Block Technology Managers (BTM) and Inspectors from agri and allied departments with a motive to help equip all stakeholders with better skills to promote better marketing of Agri and allied supplies.
Resource persons for the training program were associate professor and head, department of agricultural economics, NU SASRD, Dr. Amod Sharma; assistant manager (credit), SBI Medziphema ADB Branch, Uttam Das; vice principal, IETC, Dr. Watimongla Jamir; joint director (Marketing), department of agriculture, Kohima, Alet Hangsing; marketing specialist, central institute of horticulture, Medziphema, Prabin Das; assistant professor, department of agricultural economics, NU SASRD, Sanjoy Das and Director SAMETI & Principal IETC, Dr. I. Amenla.
The training course covered detailed theoretical and practical sessions on agriculture, agri-business and innovation, value chain approach: an overview; agri. watch: an overview; risks and risk management in agriculture; Kisan Credit Card (KCC); status of agricultural marketing in the state; marketing acts and future trading in the context of Nagaland; marketing of horticultural crops; concept of marketing management; economic feasibility test & credit proposal and agricultural crop insurance.
The training included an exposure field visit to Pristine’s Food processing unit which is an emerging food processing unit that produces processed fruits and vegetables such as ginger candy, candied citrus peel, dried gooseberry, assorted fruit candies, ginger powder etc. The trainees also visited Pristine’s piggery unit located at the farm where they were appraised on the importance of piggery management. The valedictory function was chaired by SAMETI, DPD, Sentinaro Longchar, while feedback on the training was given by HEA, Mokokchung Mapusenla Jamir, and Machamo Ngullie, BTM, Mon district.
Meanwhile, SAMETI Director Dr. I. Amenla, in her valedictory address, congratulated the trainees on the successful completion of the training. She stated that it was the need of the time to tune up the agriculture marketing of the state to enable the farmers face the new challenges and reap the opportunities as well.
She further encouraged the participants to be smart agriculturalist so that every issue of a farmer will be a challenge and also insisted them to take initiatives in motivating and assisting the Naga farmers.