Vocational training on food preservation

Ludhiana: As many as 20 farm women attended the five-day training course on “Food preservation” which was jointly organised by the Department of Extension Education and the Skill Development Centre, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) at the village Leelan, Ludhiana district. The course was held under the aegis of Entrepreneurship Programme For Scheduled Castes. Dr Lavleesh Garg, Extension Scientist, urged the farm women to acquire skill oriented trainings and start venture by uniting and forming self-help groups. He also urged the rural women to read PAU farm literature for updating their knowledge. Dr Gaganpreet Kaur, Department of Sociology, urged the women to come forward and adopt at least one venture for their livelihood and help the families in being economically sound in the present scenario. Dr Lakhwinder Kaur, Extension Scientist, while proposing a vote of thanks, advised the participants to utilise the surplus vegetables and fruits through processing for enhancing family income. The participants were also enrolled as members of Changi Kheti. The Secretary of the cooperative society Sardar Gurjeet Singh assured full support needed by the rural community. During the course, experts from the Department of Food Science and Technology demonstrated the preparation of Kinnow squash, carrot murabba, amla murabba, flavoured milk, chenna murki, pickle, aloo bujia and chips.

Youngsters urged to take interest in farming

The Department of Extension Education, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), organised a village level exhibition at the village Bhundri, Sidhwan Bet. This exhibition was organised as a part of National Science Day celebration, which aimed at the display of agricultural innovations at the doorstep of its end users i.e farmers, farm women, rural youth and school children. The exhibition displayed models of integrated farming system, mushroom cultivation, rain water harvesting, and vegetable nutritional garden. There was also the showcase of various processed food products prepared by PAU from various fruits and vegetables. In his address, Dr Kuldeep Singh, Head, Department of Extension Education, urged the higher secondary school students to adopt scientific agriculture as their profession. He also stimulated the farmers and students to come forward in adopting the farm innovations, generated at PAU. Dr Lopamudra Mohapatra, Assistant Professor, Extension Education and the Coordinator, said that the purpose of the exhibition was to encourage students to take interest in farming and aspire to be an entrepreneurial farmer.

5-day training course on post-harvest management

The Skill Development Centre, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), organised a five-day training course on the “Cultivation and Preservation of Fruits, Vegetables and Flowers” under the aegis of the Directorate of Extension Education. Dr TS Riar, Associate Director (Skill Development), said the experts provided in-depth knowledge regarding the cultivation, post-harvest management and marketing of fruits, vegetables and flowers. Dr Lavleesh Garg, Course Coordinator, highlighted the importance of the training course.