PAU empowers farmers, women, and technocrats through Specialized Courses

The Skill Development Centre at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) organized two training courses aimed at benefiting farmers, farm women, and technocrats affiliated with the International Fertiliser Development Centre (IFDC) in Bathinda. Directed by MS Bhullar, the Director of Extension Education at PAU, these courses focused on the preservation of fruits and vegetables at the domestic level and seed production marketing.

Hands-on learning for Farmers and Technocrats

Under Bhullar's guidance, 17 farmers and rural women engaged in a comprehensive five-day training course, delving into the art of preserving fruits and vegetables. Simultaneously, 24 technocrats participated in a one-day training session, gaining insights into seed production and its marketing aspects. The courses featured practical demonstrations, including the preparation of various products such as amla candy, murabba, tomato juice, puree, sauce, squash, nectar, fruit jam, and mixed vegetable pickle.

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Emphasizing the importance of empowering rural communities for economic independence, course coordinator Prerna Kapila highlighted the potential for sustaining livelihoods in nutritional, professional, and financial dimensions.

Expert guidance for Business Ventures

Technical coordinator Arshdeep Singh motivated the trainees to consider venturing into their businesses, assuring them of the continued technical guidance and support from the Department of Food Science and Technology at PAU. Deepak Arora focused on vegetable seed production, while business management expert Khusdeep Dharni provided valuable marketing tips to enhance monetary benefits for the technocrats.

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In addition to these training courses, PAU is gearing up for an Indo-US workshop on horticultural crops in collaboration with California State University, Fresno, US, scheduled for January 23 and 24. This workshop aims to explore various aspects of horticulture, contributing significantly to diversification and sustainable livelihoods in the agricultural community.