Two training courses were conducted by the Skill Development Centre, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), for the welfare of farmers, farm women of Punjab and technocrats of International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC), Bathinda under the stewardship of Dr MS Bhullar, Director of Extension Education. A total of 17 farmers and rural women attended the five-day training course on 19.01.2024 the “Preservation of Fruits and Vegetables at Domestic Level,” while 24 technocrats participated in one-day training course that apprised them of seed production and its marketing. From IFDC, Mr KS Sandhu, Chief; Mr SP Singh, Managing Director; Dr SS Bal, Scientist; and Mr Ganga Ram, Deputy General Manager, were the special guests on the occasion.
Dr (Mrs) Rupinder Kaur, Associate Director of Skill Development, informed that the experts gave hand-on-demonstrations in the preparation of amla candy and murabba; tomato juice, puree, sauce, squash and nectar; pappad wadian; fruit jam and mixed vegetable pickle.
Dr Prerna Kapila, Course Coordinator, called for empowering rural community for economic independence.
Dr Arshdeep Singh, Technical Coordinator, explained the increased benefits of preservation of fruits and vegetables. Motivating the trainees to venture into their businesses, he observed that the course would go a long way in sustaining livelihoods nutritionally, professionally, and financially. He assured full support in terms of technical guidance from the Department of Food Science and Technology.
Dr Deepak Arora dwelt upon vegetable seed production, and Dr Khusdeep Dharni, Business Management expert, provided useful marketing tips which could result in monetary benefits to the technocrats.
Dr Hanuman Bobade, Dr Vikas Kumar, Dr Jagbir Rehal, Dr Sukhpreet Kaur and Dr Neha Babbar explained various aspects of fruit and vegetable preservation.
Mr Lavleesh Garg, Extension Scientist and Mrs Kanwaljit Kaur proposed a vote of thanks.
Read more: https://www.pau.edu/index.php?_act=manageEvent&DO=viewEventDetail&dataE=datae&intID=8593
