Selected women and youth from villages in Cakaudrove, Bua and Macuata are being trained on mechanical virgin coconut oil production.

Senior Agriculture Officer Macuata, Sujendra Prasad says the selected participants are already producing virgin coconut oil but the production is being done manually.

Prasad says introducing machines for VCO production means they will produce oil much faster in little time.

Opening the training this morning, Commissioner Northern Division Jovesa Vocea says the purpose of the training is to promote and create interest among the trainees in order to rejuvenate the ailing coconut industry.

The training also focuses on product diversification from traditional copra production to whole nut processing.

The Ministry of Agriculture has conducted training over the last five years and has trained about 100 participants.

At the end of the training, the participants are given VCO producing machines to boost production in their villages and communities.

The training is being held at the Dreketi Agriculture Training Center.