Professor Jayashankar Telangana state Agricultural University, Agricultural College, Aswaraopet and Coconut development Board, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Govt of India, State Centre-Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh had jointly organized Six Days Skill Development Programme on “Friends of Coconut Tree” on plant protection aspects of coconut including harvesting using the palm climbing device during 24th – 29th 2024 to the twenty trainees. The programme was conducted according to the structured programme schedule designed by the Coconut Development Board. On 24.01.2024, the programme was inaugurated. The chief guest of the inauguration programme Sri.Kumarvel, Deputy Director, Coconut Development Board, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh had delivered his valuable speech on the importance of coconut cultivation, value addition of coconut, different schemes offered by the Coconut Development Board. He had motivated the trainees to utilize the opportunity. Dr.J.Hemantha Kumar, Associate Dean had given presidential speech. He expressed the happiness towards organizing training programme to the coconut growers and coconut climbers. He had encouraged the trainees to know the prominence of training programme in contributing to their subsidiary income. He wished the trainees to attentively practice the coconut climbing with palm climbing devices and to attend the six days programme happily. Dr.I.V.Sreenivasa Reddy, Professor & University Head, Dept of Horticulture addressed the gathering and enlightened about the importance of coconut cultivation in the human development. Dr.K.Gopala Krishna Murthy, Associate Professor & Head of the Department, Dept of GPBR had motivated the trainees with his adorable speech. Sri.M.Kiran Kumar, Technical Officer, CDB, Vijayawada had explained about the importance of Friends of Coconut Tree for the coconut climbers and coconut growers. Further he said about the insurance schemes and other schemes offered by the CDB for the welfare of the Coconut Climbers. Dr.K.Shireesha, Assistant Professor, Dept of Agricultural Extension and Dr.P.Neelima, Assistant Professor, Dept of Horticulture had coordinated the six days Friends of Coconut Tree programme at Agricultural College, Aswaraopet. The master trainers from CDB, Vijayawada Sri.K.Raghu and Sri.K.Srinu trained the twenty trainees on Coconut climbing using palm climbing devices. The training programme was started with the ice breaking session for introducing all the trainees to them. A total of ten technical sessions including the coconut cultivation practices, nutrient management, pest disease management, harvesting, coconut seed production, seed nut procurement, safe handling of seed nuts and tender nuts, organic farming, coconut nursery management. Additionally the sessions on Yoga, Communication skills and time management, decision making, Thrift/Savings Management, Leadership Qualities, Social security – Insurance, pension and provident fund, Positive thinking and healthy way of living were also conducted by different resource persons from the college and bank experts. Daily there was vigorous practice on coconut climbing at the college farm. On the sixth day coconut Olympics were conducted. Later valedictory session was organized. Dr.I.V.Sreenivasa Reddy, Associate Dean (i/c) presided over the programme and distributed the prizes to the first three winners and one consolation prize was given to the women climber. Later the certificates and the palm climbing devices were distributed to each individual trainee.
Read more: https://www.pjtsau.edu.in/skill-development-friends-coconut-tree-agc-aswaraopet-29-01-2024.html
