Khonsa, Aug 24: A 3-day ‘Hands-on Training on Solar Drying Techniques’ for the large cardamom growers, NaRMG and SHG members promoted by NERCORMP in Tirap and Longding districts was inaugurated here at the Circuit House on Monday by Tirap Deputy Commissioner Bhanu Prabha.
50 growers who are attending the programme will be trained on solar food drying and processing techniques for large cardamom, ginger, turmeric, pineapple, fruits, vegetables, flowers and herbs. The DC, who is also the Chairperson-NERCORMP in the two districts informed that M/s Raheja Solar Food Processing Private Limited will initially procure all the large cardamom produce from the growers of 13 project villages of NERCORMP where the solar dryers have been distributed as a pilot project. While informing that the marketing initiative, if successful, will also be taken up in other project villages of Tirap and Longding districts, DC encouraged the growers to take maximum benefit of the training and explained the advantages of solar dryers in comparison to traditional fire-place drying methods which are accident prone. 
Officials from the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and NERCORMP were present.
As per the records available with NERCORMP, large cardamom production was approximately 1,38,990 kg in Tirap and Longding last year and the objective behind distribution of solar dryers is to fetch good market value of large cardamom and other spices grown in the two districts. District Project Director, NERCORMP assured the farmers to provide the required technology in agriculture, horticulture and animal husbandry for value addition of the produce and informed about the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) inked with Ms/ Raheja Solar Food Processing for marketing.
It needs mentioning that in collaboration with the Tirap DA, NERCORMP has taken the initiative to equip the large cardamom growers of Tirap and Longding districts with solar dryers for drying large cardamom, ginger, turmeric, king chilly, tea leaves and other horticulture crops. As a part of the project, 13 solar drying units of 60 kg capacity for both solar and hybrid varieties have been procured. DIPRO

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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