A one-day hands-on training on value addition of sesame and interaction with farmers was organised at the School of Agricultural Sciences, Nagaland University (SAS, NU), Medziphema Campus, on March 16.

The programme was organised by SAS, NU, under the All India Coordinated Research Project on Sesame, funded by ICAR-Project Coordinating Unit (Sesame and Niger), JNKVV, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. It was attended by 20 women farmers from Medziphema village, Chümoukedima.

The programme was chaired by Dr. Hillel Chishi, Guest Faculty, Department of Agronomy, SAS, NU. The Project In-charge, Dr. Debika Nongmaithem, Assistant Professor, Department of Agronomy, gave the welcome address and a brief introduction to the programme. Prof. T. Gohain, Head of the Department of Agronomy, SAS, NU, in an exhortation speech dwelt on the importance of value addition of the crop alongside sesame cultivation. He appreciated the role of women farmers, especially in North-East India, and strongly encouraged them to contribute to the state’s oilseed production.

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The Project In-charge deliberated various market opportunities in sesame value-added products and urged the farmers to be torchbearers in sesame production and the state’s overall oilseed production, as the state depends heavily on other states for oil. She encouraged the farmers to explore oil extraction possibilities through self-help groups or community-level initiatives to boost sesame oil production in the state. She exhorted the Medziphema village farmers to make use of their proximity to the University and avail help from various scientists to increase their agricultural production. Sesame products like ladoo, til with groundnut chikki, and til powder with condiments were prepared as part of the value addition programme.

The programme included interaction with farmers and input distribution. Dr. Lizabeni Kithan, Guest Faculty, Department of Agronomy, SAS, NU, delivered the vote of thanks.