Kohima: Nagaland University has launched a 10-day farmers’ training programme on the “Extraction and Value Addition of Non-Conventional Banana Fibre” to promote sustainable and eco-friendly agricultural practices in the state.
The programme, inaugurated on February 4, is being conducted under the Science & Technology Intervention in North Eastern Region (STINER) project and is funded by the ICAR–National Institute of Natural Fiber Engineering and Technology (NINFET), Kolkata. According to Nagaland University PRO Peter Ki, this is the second of five training programmes approved under the project to scale up sustainable innovations for rural communities.
Inaugurating the programme, Prof. Dipak Sinha, Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Medziphema campus, stressed the need to adopt sustainable technologies to uplift rural farmers and suggested incorporating success stories from earlier training initiatives for the benefit of participants.
The Principal Investigator of the project, Khan Chand of the Department of Agricultural Engineering, outlined the process of converting banana fiber from raw material into marketable products. Drawing on his experience in food processing, he explained the process from fibre extraction to the development of marketable products.
The interactive session highlighted banana fibre’s potential as a green alternative for industries and encouraged farmers to acquire innovative skills to enhance their livelihoods.
A total of 20 farmers are participating in the inaugural session, including eight from Choklangan village in Noklak district and 12 from Sirhima village in Chümoukedima district. The participants will receive hands-on training on efficient fibre extraction and the conversion of banana fibre into saleable products.
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The initiative is expected to boost value addition in sustainable agriculture and open up alternative livelihood opportunities, helping farmers diversify income streams amid changing market demands.
