Trainees with honourable Mr. T. Robindro (MLA of Thanga constituency )

ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Cochin has organized three day training cum demonstration programme on “Value addition of fish and fishery products” under Schedule Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) at Chandpur Bamon Mandop, Moirang Khunou Village, Bishnupur District of Manipur from 23-25 October, 2019 in association with local NGOs (ONE MANIPUR and Socio-cultural Improvement Organization, Manipur) with nearly 70 trainees (male & female) belonging to Below Poverty Line of Scheduled Caste community from different wards of Moirang Khunou (Chandpur, Chingmei Awang, Keibul Mayai Leikai and Keirenphabi) attending  the programme. In the inauguration session, Mrs. O. Premila Devi, Ward Member of the local Gram Panchayat, welcomed and addressed the participants highlighting the objectives and the relevance of conducting the training programme in the area. Moirang Khunou is mainly fishing community where male involved in harvesting of fish and family women in post harvest value addition activities. Dr. H. Mandakini Devi, Scientist ICAR-CIFT, Cochin was the resource person of the programme. She briefed about the basic principles of value addition of fish and explained about the different value added products which can be developed from the fish available locally. Mr. O. Iboyaima Singh, Secretary of Socio-cultural Improvement Organization, Manipur and N. Narendra Singh, member of ONE MANIPUR graced the function.  Mr. Noby Varghese K.A. and Mr. Sunil N. were also present as technical person from ICAR-CIFT, Cochin.  The training was conducted by demonstrating step-by-step directions of basic processing steps. Trainees were also made familiarized with the filleting technique of fish processing. Value added products from fish such as pickle, cutlets and balls, fish chutney powder were covered during the programmed. Valedictory function was graced by the honorable local MLA Mr. T. Robindro as Chief-Guest of the function. He thanked ICAR-CIFT for choosing Moirang Khunou Village for the particular programme and urged the participants to take benefits of the opportunity as Moirang Khunou which is adjacent to Keibul Lamjao the home of the endangered Sangai is also one of the prominent tourist spot in Manipur. The training was concluded with the distribution of certificates and input materials (gas stove, grinder, sealing machine, mincer, CIFT insulated fish bags and other processing accessories etc) by the honorable local MLA to the trainees.