 Early Times Report
JAMMU, Dec 6: Vice- Chancellor SKUAST-Jammu, Professor J P Sharma on Monday inaugurated 10-day vocational training on "Value addition and processing of fruits, vegetables and cereals" for farm women and farmers of SC community at Chatha here,
The training programme was inaugurated in presence of Dr S K Tyagi, Programme Coordinator, AICRP on PHET, ICAR-CIPHET Ludhiana, Dr. S.K. Gupta, Director Extension, SKUAST-Jammu and Dr. Syed Zameer Hussain, Head, Division of FST, SKUAST-Kashmir. The programme is organized by Division of Food Science and Technology, SKUAST-Kashmir in collaboration with Directorate of Extension, SKUAST-Jammu under SC project funded by Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi.
While highlighting the importance of value addition and processing of farm products to manage surplus production, Prof JP Sharma quoted various examples of successful farm women entrepreneurs.
He emphasized on transformation of agriculture to agribusiness through branding, marketing and packaging. He briefed that farmers' income can be multiplied ten times with the intervention of value addition and processing. The need is to think on scientific lines to boost value addition and processing. Quoting the examples of Aonla candy, potato chips, wheat dahlia, and spices, he motivated farmers to initiate the enterprise with a small investment. He ensured full cooperation of University for further handholding of farmers after the training to transform their activities into successful business. He also congratulated the organizers for first ever collaborative programme of SKUAST-Jammu and SKUAST-Kashmir on such useful topic, after the signing of MoU between two Universities.
Dr. S.K. Tyagi, Programme Coordinator CIPHET Ludhiana briefed about the provisions of the scheme and encouraged farm women to establish their own enterprises for enhancing their income. He also suggested them to collaborate through formation of Self Help Groups for better returns.
Dr. S.K. Gupta, Director Extension discussed the knowledge of processing and value addition, traditionally followed by farm women and discussed the need for adopting scientific methods with branding and packaging. He advised participants to thoroughly learn the skills of value addition for future use, domestically as well as for business purpose.
While presenting the welcome address, Dr. Syed Zameer Hussain briefed about the activities carried out under the project. He discussed the training module adopted for imparting skills during the ten days training programme.
More than 30 farm women and farmers will participate in the programme to learn the skills of value addition and processing.
The resource persons from SKUAST-Jammu and SKUAST-Kashmir for the ten days programme, including Dr. Anju Bhat, Dr. Manmohan Singh, Shan, Dr. Mushtaq, Dr. Monika Reshi, Dr, Neeraj Gupta were also present during the inaugural session. The programme ended with vote of thanks presented by Dr. Pawan Kumar Sharma (Scientist (Agril. Economics). |
