A 10-day vocational training program on “Processing and Value Addition of Banana Pseudostem Fibres” was organised by the Department of Textile and Apparel Designing, College of Community Science, Central Agricultural University (Imphal) Tura.
The programme which concluded on August 16 was part of the project “Strengthening Livelihood Opportunities for Farmers of Garo Hills in Meghalaya Through Processing and Value Addition of Non-Conventional Fibres,” funded by ICAR-NINFET Kolkata.
Throughout the training, various specialised sessions were conducted by experts in textile and apparel designing, offering in-depth insights and practical knowledge. The curriculum also included sessions on vermicomposting using plant material residue from fibre extraction.
The valedictory function held on August 17 was attended by Minha Riyaz Khan, Project Lead of Prime Rural (PSREF) Government of Meghalaya, who distributed certificates to the participants.
She encouraged them to pursue entrepreneurship and assured ongoing support from Prime Rural to benefit the participants. With the abundant banana crop in the state, there are significant opportunities for fibre extraction and value addition. The infrastructure for extraction of fibre in the college will serve to be a centralised facility for the benefit of the local farmers.
