Participants weaving durable utility baskets using flat plastic strips during the basket-making training held at Likya Community Hall, Wokha on March 2.
Morung Express News
Wokha | March 2
A one-day basket-making training programme was conducted for 63 Self-Help Group (SHG) members from Chukitong, Wokha and Wozhuro blocks by the State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD), Kohima, in collaboration with the Nagaland State Rural Livelihoods Mission (NSRLM), at Likya Community Hall, Wokha on March 2.
The training aimed to promote skill development and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for SHG households. Senior Lecturer, SIRD, Dr Rokosuno, led the theoretical session, while practical training was imparted by Neizelieü and Vilazonuo.
During the hands-on session, participants were taught to weave durable utility baskets using flat plastic strips. The baskets are suitable for carrying vegetables, groceries and other household items, making them practical products for everyday use.
Addressing the participants, Dr Rokosuno highlighted that while many SHGs are engaged in kitchen gardening and vegetable cultivation—activities that are often seasonal and involve perishable produce—skill-based initiatives such as basket-making can provide an additional and more reliable source of income. The trainers emphasised that unlike farm produce, baskets are non-perishable items that can be stored, transported and marketed throughout the year, thereby ensuring a steadier income stream.
The participants expressed gratitude to NSRLM and SIRD for organising the initiative. Although the training was conducted for only a day, they noted that it equipped them with foundational weaving techniques and encouraged them to explore more advanced designs to expand their small-scale enterprises in the future. They also appealed for more such skill-oriented programmes to strengthen rural entrepreneurship among women SHGs.
