 Early Times Report
JAMMU, Dec 9: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Jammu, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture Production & Farmers Welfare, Jammu, and MANAGE-Hyderabad, inaugurated a five-day Training of Trainers (TOT) Capacity Building of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) program. The event, hosted by the Division of Agricultural Extension Education, Chatha, runs from December 9 to 13, 2024, under the HADP-20 project, "Innovative Extension Approaches for Revitalizing Agriculture in Jammu & Kashmir."
Prof. Rajinder Peshin, Director Education at SKUAST-Jammu, was the chief guest for the inaugural function, while Dr. Mahital Jamwal, Associate Director Research, was the Guest of Honor. Prof. Peshin emphasized the significance of blending practical and theoretical training to enable trainees to effectively implement FPO-related initiatives at the grassroots level. He stressed that the program should address every aspect of FPO formation to ensure clarity among participants.
Dr. Mahital Jamwal highlighted the importance of such capacity-building events in refreshing field officers' knowledge and providing opportunities for expert interaction to resolve on-ground challenges. Asif Mohi-Ud-Din from MANAGE-Hyderabad detailed the program schedule and objectives.
Dr. Vinod Gupta, Professor and Head of the Division of Agricultural Extension Education and Principal Investigator of the HADP project, elaborated on the role of FPOs in revolutionizing group farming. He discussed the relevance of such training in addressing challenges related to marketing, post-harvest management, and farmer upliftment.
The program saw the participation of over 60 officers from Agriculture, Horticulture, Fisheries, and Sericulture departments. Prof. L.K. Sharma and Prof. Poonam Parihar graced the inaugural event, with Raj Kumar, Technical Officer, welcoming the attendees and underlining the transformative potential of the HADP project for agriculture in J&K. The session concluded with a vote of thanks by Prof. Poonam Parihar.
This initiative aims to equip trainers with the expertise to establish and support FPOs, fostering sustainable agricultural practices and enhancing the livelihoods of farmers in the region. |
