Dimapur, Feb. 14 (EMN): State Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institute (Sameti), Medziphema organised a skill training for rural youth (STRY) programme on post-harvest processing and packaging of fruits and vegetables to impart employable skills to unemployed rural youths from February 7 to the 12th.
It was held in association with National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (Manage), Hyderabad, an update said.
During the inaugural programme, Dr. Watimongla Jamir, Director of Sameti and Principal of IETC encouraged the participants to participate in the training diligently and become master trainers for rural youths in their communities.
Resource persons for the training programme were Tiajungla Longchar, Deputy Project Director, Sameti and State Coordinator, STRY Nagaland; Pute Phesao, Director Pristine Foods, Nagaland; Nukuzo Phesao, Proprietor Warehouse 103, Nagaland and Bikash L Singh, Marketing Manager, Pristine Foods, Nagaland.
The training programme covered topics such as introduction to post-harvest processing and its importance, packaging and marketing of processed products, types of packaging materials, sterilisation and hands-on practical sessions on preparation of chilli oil, preparation of star fruit candy, preparation of kiwi candy, preparation of vegetable pickle, preparation of ginger powder, weighing and sealing of finished products.
The participants also visited Pristine Foods, Dimapur where they were introduced and shown the working of different kinds of food processing machinery, equipment and packaging materials like dehydrator, slicer, sealer, grinder, liquid filler, glass jars, glass bottles and bio-degradable opaque bags.
Meanwhile, H Mhonthung Merry, Deputy Project Director, Sameti pronounced the vote of thanks during the valedictory programme. It said that the programme concluded with distribution of certificates and training handouts to the participants. A total of 15 rural youths were trained, it added.