The Skill Development Centre of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) conducted a five-day training course on December 18.12.2023 “Setting up of Agribusiness” for the farmers, rural women and rural youths of Punjab at University campus, Ludhiana; Bathinda and Mansa. A total of 36 trainees participated in the course which was held under the guidance of Dr MS Bhullar, Director of Extension Education, PAU and sponsored by Ambuja Cement Foundation at Bathinda and Mansa.
Dr Rupinder Kaur, Associate Director (Skill Development), said that in light of the slow economic growth, it was important to suggest and open income-generating avenues for the farming community. Agribusiness involving setting up of agro-processing units as well as value addition was emerging fast as a source of monetary support and sustained growth, she added.
Dr Prerna Kapila, Course Coordinator, informed that experts of processing and food engineering, business studies, and plant breeding and genetics explained processing of various crops for drawing income from processed food products.
Dr Tarsem Chand, Head, Department of Processing and Food Engineering, informed that PAU has helped establish more than 360 agro-processing complexes in Punjab. These plants boosted the rural livelihood and were a ray of hope for youths who at present seemed to be disgruntled, he added.
Dr Lavleesh Garg, Extension Scientist, pointed out the challenges being faced due to intensive cultivation of wheat-paddy in Punjab such as water, air and soil crises; weather fluctuations; waning interest of youth in agriculture; slip in income, etc. Dr Garg said that agro-processing complexes offered diversification as well as doubled the income of the old and young farmers.
Dr Sandhya Singh and Dr Rohit Sharma coordinated the visit of trainees to the agro-processing plants at Lakhowal and Jamalpur, Ludhiana.
Ms Deepika Dhingra from Indian Bank informed about the loan facilities and subsidy availability for processing units. She was accompanied by Sardar Atinderpal Singh and Ms Priyanka.
Mrs Kanwaljit Kaur proposed a vote of thanks.
Experts Dr Mahesh Kumar, Dr MS Alam, Dr Preetinder Kaur, Dr Gurveer Kaur, Dr Sajeev Rattan Sharma, Dr Satish Kumar Gupta, Dr Maninder Kaur, Dr Manpreet Kaur Saini, Dr Khushdeep Dharni, and Dr Bhupinder Kaur Babbar from PAU; and Dr Satish Kumar, AGMARK Laboratory Incharge dwelt upon various aspects of food processing and value addition.
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