Guwahati: A 10-day training program on extraction and value addition of non-conventional banana fiber for Naga farmers was inaugurated on February 4 at Nagaland University’s Medziphema campus. The program, organized by the Department of Agricultural Engineering in collaboration with the Science & Technology Intervention in North Eastern Region (STINER), School of Agricultural Sciences, and funded by ICAR–National Institute of Natural Fiber Engineering and Technology (NINFET), Kolkata, aims to equip farmers with innovative agricultural practices and promote eco-friendly rural livelihoods.
Dipak Sinha, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Medziphema campus, emphasized the importance of adopting sustainable technologies in agriculture to uplift rural communities. He encouraged the inclusion of success stories from earlier training programs to inspire the participants.
The Principal Investigator of the project, Khan Chand of Department of Agricultural Engineering, outlined the process of converting banana fiber from raw material into marketable products. He highlighted its potential as a green alternative for various industries and encouraged farmers to adopt these techniques for economic empowerment. The project also involves V.B. Shabhu (ICAR–NINFET, Kolkata), Akali Sema, L. Tongpang, A.K. Verma, Chitrasen L. and Prabhakar Singh from Nagaland University.
Twenty farmers from across the region are participating in the program—eight from Choklangan Village, Noklak district, and twelve from Sirhima Village, Chümoukedima district. They will receive hands-on training in the extraction of banana fiber and its conversion into saleable products.
The initiative is the second in a series of five training programs under a major funded project aimed at scaling up eco-friendly innovations for rural communities. It is expected to enhance value addition in local agriculture and provide alternative livelihoods, helping farmers diversify income streams amid changing market demands.