A 22-day training programme on 9.07.2024“Honing of Agriculture Skills” commenced at the Skill Development Centre, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in collaboration with Syngenta Foundation India, Pune, Maharashtra. In total, 35 youths are participating in the programme, aimed at brushing up the agriculture related knowledge and enhancing the skills of the youths in allied agri-enterprises.
Inaugurating the programme, the chief guest Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, gave a call for youth empowerment and urged the youths to avail the farm related services being offered by the agri-varsity to the full. “It is high time to whet your skills in latest enterprises such as value addition, agro-processing, beekeeping, mushroom cultivation, garment embellishment, etc. which open doors for sustainable family life through socio-economic empowerment,” he observed. This year, students increasing interest in agricultural studies in Punjab than off-shores was evident from the number of applications received during the PAU academic session 2024-25, he disclosed, adding it outnumbered the last five-year’s record, touching 5,446 (applications) in the current session.
Dr MS Bhullar, Director of Extension Education, while urging the youths to develop skills, cited the examples of successful farmers and entrepreneurs who have made a mark in their respective fields with the scientific expertise and technical guidance of PAU.
A higher official Mr Karanvir Nagpal from Syngenta outlined the programmes being run by the company for the farmers’ welfare. Other representatives including Mr Rajendra Jog, Mr Vikram Boradey and Mr Rajendra Deshmukh attended the programme via online mode.
Dr (Mrs) Rupinder Kaur, Associate Director (Skill Development), in her welcome address, informed that the centre was rendering yeoman’s service to enable rural and urban populations cultivate skills, start their own businesses and reap financial gains for familial stability. The course which kicked off on July 1 will conclude on July 30, she divulged, saying that it was a unique effort to wipe out unemployment and make youths self-employed by helping them to be job providers rather than job seekers.
Extension Scientist Dr Lavleesh Garg coordinated the programme, while Dr Prerna Kapila proposed a vote of thanks.
From Syngenta, Dr MS Malhi, Mr Pankaj Chugh, Mr Vinod Singh, Dr Devesh Tiwari and Mr Raja Ram Saharan and from PAU, Dr Preetinder Kaur, Dr Dilpreet Talwar, Mrs Kuldeep Kaur and Mrs Kanwaljit Kaur attended the inaugural ceremony.
Read more: https://www.pau.edu/index.php?_act=manageEvent&DO=viewEventDetail&dataE=datae&intID=9272
