Agro-based Rural Technology & Incubation Centre (RTIC) at Nagaland Tool Room & Training Centre (NTTC) was inaugurated by commissioner and secretary, Industries & Commerce, Kekhrievor Kevichusa in the presence of K. Hokishe Assumi, director of Industries & Commerce and Tali Longchar, director (I/C), MSME-DI, Dimapur on August 17.
In a release, NTTC stated that under this project, the centre conducted various types of training programmes on agro-based rural technologies developed/manufactured at the centre for exposure and to gain more knowledge.
A group of trainers and artisans were also sent to Tamil Nadu for training on banana fibre extraction and handicraft making. The centre also participated in various exhibitions/trade fair where products manufactured at NTTC were displayed, demonstrated and received positive feedback from participants.
According to the centre, there are currently 22 agro based rural technologies developed/manufactured under this scheme such as bamboo shoot slicer, vegetable crusher-cum-slicer, smoke-free meat dryer, banana fibre extractor (electrical version), hand tools for hill farming among many other machineries.
It may be noted that the “agro-based rural technology & incubation centre”, a scheme funded by ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, India was aimed at generating employment opportunities by setting up self-employment ventures by bringing widely dispersed traditional artisans and unemployed youth.
It also aims to provide continuous and sustainable employment to traditional and prospective artisans and rural/urban unemployed youths to arrest migration of rural youths to urban areas.