The state office of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) inaugurated a 10-day skill development training programme for fruit and vegetable processing under the Agro-Based Food Processing Industry verticals of Gramodyog Vikas Yojana (GVY) at Mairang Mission, Eastern West Khasi Hills, for the first batch of 20 artisans.
The inaugural function was attended by various dignitaries, including the state director of KVIC Shillong, officials from the Meghalaya State Rural Livelihood Society, Dorbar Shnong, and secretary of Mairang Mission.
During the event, the KVIC state director outlined the objectives of the training programme, namely to utilise locally available raw materials/resources and convert them into value-added products; to provide sustainable income to artisans, rural unemployed youth and farmers; to impart skill development programmes with new modern technologies in producing the various agro-based food products; to provide improved tools, equipment and machinery to individual artisans/groups for enhanced productivity; to adopt good manufacturing practices in setting up agro-based food products; to reduce loss of perishable agricultural products, promote the setting up of processing units on the farm; and to provide advanced skills the selected artisans through a Centre of Excellence for product diversification, packaging, standardisation.
The 10-days programme is being conducted by the master trainer and proprietor Silda Thabah and will conclude on July 7.