Skill Development Training Programme concludes
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 16 2024: A 5-Day Skill Development Training Programme on "Value Addition of Cereals, Fruits, Vegetables & Spices through Processing" successfully concluded on November 15, 2024, at the College of Fisheries, Lembucherra, Agartala (a constituent college of Central Agricultural University, Imphal).

The training programme was sponsored by die Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, and organised by the College of Food Technology, CAU, Imphal.

According to a release issued by Prof Ng Iboyaima Singh, Dean, College of Food Technology, CAU, Imphal, the training aimed to enhance food processing skills for the participants from Tripura and the North Eastern Region.

The programme brought together 35 participants, including food manufacturers, exporters, small and medium-scale industry representatives, rural food processing units, SHGs, and NGOs, providing hands-on training in modem food processing, and preservation or processing techniques for cereals, fruits, vegetables, and spices.

The key objectives were to promote value addition, enhance export potential, and build a stronger linkage between local food industries and research initiatives from CAU Imphal and Tripura.

The closing ceremony was graced by Swapna Debnath, Additional Director, Industries and Commerce, Government of Tripura; Prof Ng Iboyaima Singh, Dean, College of Food Technology, Imphal (Program Coordinator); Prof AB Patel, Dean, College of Fisheries, Lembucherra and Joydev Roy, Business Development Manager, APEDA, Tripura as presidium members.

The training programme emphasized practical skill development, with participants receiving hands-on experience in food processing operations.

Nineteen products were demonstrated in the training.

The initiative is expected to empower participants by boosting their confidence, enhancing their knowledge of food preservation techniques, and creating new job opportunities through the production of value-added products.

Participants expressed a strong sense of accomplishment, leaving the programme equipped with valuable skills that will enable them to grow their businesses and contribute to the local economy.

The innovative products showcased at the event underscored the potential for value-added processing to transform the region's agricultural landscape.

The collaborative effort between the CAU, Imphal and APEDA highlighted the commitment to fostering sustainable food processing industries in Tripura and the Northeast, ensuring long-term economic growth and self-reliance.

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