FOCUS project conducts training for women farmers

DIMAPUR — A state-level skill development training for women farmers under the FOCUS-Nagaland project was inaugurated by state project director of FOCUS Nagaland, Shanavas C, at the Local Harvest Community Kitchen in Kohima on October 3.

In his opening remarks, Shanavas encouraged the participants to take full advantage of the opportunity and apply the knowledge gained during the training sessions to enhance their livelihood, stated a DIPR report.

It mentioned that FOCUS project embraces a gender-sensitive approach, recognising women as key stakeholders in achieving its development objectives, particularly in improving livelihood.

The training was designed to build the entrepreneurial skills of progressive women farmers by strengthening their capacities and equip them with basic skills on food processing such as juice and marmalade-making, baking and desserts which would enable the participants to apply the knowledge with local resources/materials available.

The resource persons of the skill development training included Titoni Assumi, proprietor of Sweet Treats, Kohima; Seno Whiso, proprietor of Hobbylane, Kohima; and Angunuo and Neivituonuo of self-employed women’s association (SEWA) Nagaland.

It informed that the training, held from October 3 to the 24th, is being conducted in four batches and would benefit 199 women farmers from the nine FOCUS Project districts namely Longleng, Zunheboto, Kohima, Tseminyu, Phek, Wokha, Kiphire, Mon, and Mokokchung.

The Local Harvest- A community kitchen, the venue for the training, is one of the 20 innovation fund start-up supported by the FOCUS project. The community kitchen is an endeavour to act as a platform for dialogue and exchange learning among farming communities and innovations to promote local food.