early times report
Jammu, Nov 21: Training Programme on Empowering Farm Women & Rural Youth: Kandi’s Path to food Security and Stable Incomes was organized by the Division of Agricultural Extension Education, SKUAST-Jammu (sponsored by JKST&IC project) for the Rural Women & Youths of village Maira Mandrian, block Akhnoor of District Jammu under the noble guidance & dynamic leadership of Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Prof. B.N. Tripathi. Professor P.S. Slathia (Co-PI of the JKST&IC project), Division of Agricultural Extension Education, Prof Poonam Parihar (PI of the JKST&IC project), Division of Agricultural Extension Education, KVK Kathua, Dr. Neerja Sharma (Co-PI of the JKST&IC project) & Chief Scientist, Horticulture, KVK Samba attended & participated in the Programme.
While giving the welcoming address, Prof P.S. Slathia highlighted that how Value Addition ensues food availability during off-season, provides stable income streams for farmers and reduces vulnerability to crop damage by wild animals.
Agripreneurship has potential to generate growth, diversifying income, providing widespread employment and entrepreneurial opportunities in rural areas and the minor fruits with their diverse characteristics and untapped potential, offer significant opportunities for value addition and entrepreneurship which enhances farmers' incomes by leveraging their unique qualities, nutritional benefits, and cultural significance. There is a vast production of underutilized and underexploited minor horticultural crops which could be used as the “future crops” to supplement our nutritional needs. The producers, sellers and workers involved in minor fruit production, packaging and selling may improve their livelihoods from this sector.
Professor Poonam Parihar, Principal Investigator of the Project deliberated upon the value addition of minor fruits which can substantially uplift rural livelihoods by creating a range of economic and social benefits. Since the rural Kandi Area in Jammu is dominated by traditional and minor fruits like Desi mango, Gal gal, Chakotra, Jhamiri, Khatta, Kimb, Ber, Aonla, Jamun, Karonda, Phalsa & Bael etc. She focussed on processing local fruits like Aonla (Indian Gooseberry), Karonda (Carandus Plum), Bael (Wood Apple), Ber (Jujube), Galgal (Hill Lemon), & Lasora (Gum Berry), into juices, jams, candies, preserves, pickles and therapeutic powders.
The target group (Women and youth) could be exposed to different training interventions for increasing their knowledge & Skill up gradation.
The demonstrations/training on post-harvest operations like grading, Packaging Branding & Marketing would encourage self-employment to rural people and value addition of locally available minor fruits. It will improve the productive efficiency of the natural resources and provide better and more livelihoods options to farmers and agriculture workers.
Agripreneurship has the potential to contribute to a range of social & economic development such as employment generation, income generation, poverty reduction & improvements in nutrition, health & overall food security in the National economy. Aripreneurship has potential to generate growth, diversifying income, providing widespread employment and entrepreneurial opportunities in rural areas and the minor fruits with their diverse characteristics and untapped potential, offer significant opportunities for value addition and entrepreneurship which enhances farmers' incomes by leveraging their unique qualities, nutritional benefits, and cultural significance.
Dr Neerja Sharma, Chief Scientist, Horticulture, KVK, Samba briefed the participants about the importance of value addition, industrial growth, urbanization & globalization. She also apprised the participants about the Formulation of farmers Interest Groups for market-led-extension can uplift the socioeconomic conditions of the target group. Traditional and minor fruits contribute to poverty reduction and livelihood enhancement as well as ensure household food and nutritional security adding women and youth participation through employment and income generation. The producers, sellers and workers involved in minor fruit production, packaging and selling may improve their livelihoods from this sector. She along with the team members laid Scientific practical demonstrations on Value addition of Aonla pickle & Candies and Galgal pickle which was distributed among the participants and relished by them.
The Programme was attended by Mr.Mukesh, Kumar, Artist cum photographer, Mrs Sangeets Gourey, Project Assisstant, PG & Ph.D students of SKUAST-Jammu. The programme was concluded with a vote of thanks by Smt. Anita, the group Coordinator. Village Maira Mandrian, Block Akhnoor, District Jammu.
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