Farmers hone skills in Greenhouse Technology

Month-long programme gets underway at Nauni University

A month-long skill development programme for farmers on ‘Job Role of Greenhouse Operator’ commenced at Nauni based Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry (UHF). The Precision Farming Center of the Department of Soil Science and Water Management of the university is organizing the programme.

Programme coordinator Dr RS Spehia, informed that around 40 farmers, representing all districts of the state are being sponsored by the Department of Horticulture, Government of Himachal Pradesh to undertake the training.

The farmers will be trained in all aspects of greenhouse operations starting from construction and repair, nursery production of flowers and vegetables and crop production technique. In addition, disease and insect pest management, micro-irrigation management in protected conditions, maintaining soil health with organic manure and bio-fertilizers will also be taken up during the programme. Scientists from various departments of the university will also be addressing the participants on various topics related to the greenhouse technology.

Farmers will also be taken on an exposure visit to Center of Excellence, Karnal and Chail. They will be apprised of the various schemes of the government for promotion of greenhouse technology.

Dr JC Sharma, Head Department of Soil Science and Water Management said that it was the first time in the state that any government department was organizing a 200 hours skill development programme on the concerned topic with Agriculture Skill Council of India (ASCI), Govt of India.

At the end of the programmme, the participants will be evaluated by independent examiners and successful candidates will be awarded a certificate by ASCI. The certificate will be valid all over India for applying for the job of Greenhouse Operator.