DIMAPUR: With an aim to create a sustainable solution and convert agricultural waste into income generating avenues, STINER-TFC, SASRD:NU organised a one-day hands-on training on “Banana fibre extraction, its value-addition and vermicomposting” in Medziphema village under Chümoukedima district on March 29.
An update from SASRD informed that the training was conducted with participants comprising housewives and unemployed youth, who have developed a keen interest in the said technologies.
The programme began with an invocation prayer said by Medovituo Vüprü, youth director of BCMV, followed with an opening remark from Prof. Akali Sema, project in-charge of STINER-TFC & PVC, SASRD: NU.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]With the centre situated in Medziphema itself, Prof. Sema encouraged the participants to take every opportunity in availing the assistance, technology and resources of the centre. She further motivated the participants to acquire knowledge and skills from the training to its optimum and strive towards livelihood generating avenues.
In a brief remark, Avitsi Nakhro, secretary of MVC, made aware of the abundance of resources in the village which go unutilised and gradually turns into waste. He urged the participants to make the most out of the training.
In the 1st session, experts from STINER-TFC trained the participants on the process of banana fibre extraction, which consisted of pseudo-stem extraction, washing, polishing, braiding and finally stitching the refined fibre into various handicraft products.
In the 2nd session, the process of vermi-composting was practically demonstrated, wherein the participants showed immense interest and intended to further establish a self-sustaining business.
Earlier, a theoretical presentation on the scope and utility of banana fibre and vermi-compost was made by Bikram Ghimere, project assistant of STINER-TFC.
Report stated that a total of 30 participants attended the training.