PAMETI HOLDS TRAINING PROGRAMME ON LINKING FARMERS TO MARKETING

Ludhiana, October 28, 2016: The Punjab Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institute (PAMETI), Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) organized a five-day training programme on “Linking Farmers to Markets” for the extension functionaries from state agriculture and allied departments. The programme aimed at sensitizing the extension officials about the importance of guiding farmers to produce according to the customized needs of the consumers. Emphasis was also given on advising the farmers about what, when, where and how to produce and sell. Different innovative strategies and approaches for marketing of agri-produce and value added products were discussed in detail.

In his remarks, Dr H.S. Dhaliwal, Director, PAMETI, laid stress on the need for minimizing the length of marketing chain so that farmers may come close to the consumers, can assess their demands, produce accordingly and hence may gain more profits.

Dr Rajwinder Singh, School of Management Studies, Punjabi University, Patiala imparted knowledge about supply chain management. Ms Bharti Madan, Deputy Director (Information Technology), PAMETI, discussed the role of web portals like AGMARKNET and mobile applications like Agrimarket, initiated by Government of India for providing market information to the farmers.

Mr G P S Randhawa, General Manager (Projects), Punjab Mandi Board, Mohali, deliberated on effectiveness of existing marketing channels and mandis. Practical aspects of grading, packaging, labelling and branding of agri-based products and different successful models adopted by entrepreneurs for marketing of their agri-produce were shared among the participants.

Mr Narendra Prabhakar, Custom Broker and Consultant, Ludhiana and Dr Navdeep Aggarwal from School of Business Studies, PAU told about exports of agricultural produce and future trading.

During visit to Verka Milk Plant, Ludhiana; Mr Manish Mathur explained the procurement, production, processing and marketing of milk and dairy products carried out by Milkfed.

The PAMETI faculty introduced the concept of market led extension. Formation of farmers’ interest groups/federations/producers’ organizations was also promoted for ensuring cost sharing and better prices. In addition, one-day exposure visit to Road Side Display model of self marketing of farm produce, developed by a progressive farmer S Nirbahi Singh Khalsa at village Sukha Singh Wala, Bathinda, was conducted. Participants were also exposed to contract farming model adopted by Field Fresh Pvt. Ltd. in Punjab during their visit to fields of vegetable grower S Daljeet Singh, village Saholi, Ludhiana.