Skill development programme kicks off
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 04 2023: A two-day "Skill Development and Handholding Training Programme on Agri-Horti Livelihood Activities for displaced person settled at relief camps" organised by the Manipur Organic Mission Agency (MOMA) was kicked off today at Manipur Trade & Expo Centre, Lamboikhongnangkhong, Imphal.

The skill development and handholding training programme was organised under the aegis of Department of Horticulture and Soil Conservation Manipur.

Speaking on the occasion, K Devdutta Sharma Additional Director, Horticulture & Soil Conservation Department shared that a Governmental survey conducted across nine relief camps had assessed the skills and ingenuity of the camp inmates and interested individuals have been selected to train in food processing and making fruit pickles here at Manipur Trade & Expo Centre relief camp for Imphal West district.

Skill development programme kicks off

Similar training programmes will be launched in relief camps at Kangpokpi, Churachandpur and Tengnoupal districts under the joint leadership of KVK and ICAR, he said.

After completion of training, the Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department will provide the raw materials, set up proper workshops and provide the necessary machines to ensure that the food items are produced in a clean and hygienic environment.

The Department will also take responsibility for marketing the finished products, he added.

For inmates who would prefer to market the products themselves, K Devdutta Sharma shared that they will also provide packaging service which will make it easier for consumers to see which relief camps the products came from.

The event was also attended by Honey Chara, Director, Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department; Dr Ng Iboyaima, Dean, College of Food and Technology, CAU; Associate Professor Dr Ng Joykumar; P Pramo, District Horticulture Officer, Imphal West and Louriyam Ango and Aheibam Mani, elderly inmates from the Trade & Expo relief camp as presidium members.

During the technical session, many subject experts educated the inmates about food processing, floriculture and horticulture crops.