Punjab Agricultural University’s Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) in Hoshiarpur organized a five-day vocational training programme on “Quality Production of Gur/Shakkar” at its campus from November 23 to 27, 2024. The initiative aimed to enhance the skills of sugarcane processing farmers and promote improved methods of jaggery production.
Inaugurating the training session, Dr Maninder Singh Bons, Associate Director (Training), welcomed the participants and highlighted PAU’s commitment to empowering progressive farmers through skill-based programmes. He emphasized the importance of adhering to recommended agronomic practices for sugarcane cultivation. He shared that the Department of Processing and Food Engineering, PAU Ludhiana, has been at the forefront of training jaggery producers across Punjab.
Dr Ajaib Singh, Assistant Professor (Agricultural Engineering), KVK Hoshiarpur, provided an in-depth overview of jaggery processing and packaging techniques. He demonstrated the use of advanced instruments such as refractometers and pH meters to improve the efficiency and quality of jaggery production. He also shared insights on the benefits of using horizontal roller crushers for better juice recovery compared to vertical crushers. He advised farmers to crush cane within 24 hours of harvesting for optimal results.
The training included valuable contributions from progressive jaggery farmers S. Taranjit Singh Mann and S. Manmohan Singh Khalsa of village Bugra, who shared their practical experiences and insights on jaggery processing. Additionally, participants were taken on an exposure visit to a “Steam Operated Jaggery Production Unit” in Dhadha Kalan, Hoshiarpur, where they observed modern techniques.
Read more: https://www.pau.edu/index.php?_act=manageEvent&DO=viewEventDetail&dataE=&intID=10037
