PAMETI ORGANISES PROGRAMME ON AGRI-PRENEURSHIP AND SUBSIDIARY OCCUPATIONS

Ludhiana, November 25, 2016: Punjab Agricultural Management & Extension Training Institute (PAMETI), PAU Campus, Ludhiana, organized a 5-day training program on ‘Agri-preneurship & Subsidiary Occupations’ for the benefit of extension functionaries from State Agriculture & Allied Departments and ATMA staff. Fifteen extension officials participated in this training programme.

Mrs Rupinder Kaur, Deputy Director – HRM revealed that the programme emphasized on how factors like continuous increase in cost of production, decreasing land holding, declining water table and deteriorating soil health, the profit margins of farmers are shrinking day by day. Therefore, it is time to turn agriculture into agri-business. She highlighted various subsidiary occupations like mushroom cultivation, honey production, vegetable seed production, agro-forestry, medicinal & aromatic plants, livestock rearing such as dairy, piggery, goatry, poultry, fishery etc. These will not only help to avoid risks associated with monoculture but will also help in getting sustainable income round the year.

Various experts from PAU and GADVASU interacted with participants and enlightened them on practicalities associated with the adoption of different subsidiary occupations and further value addition in their products for efficient marketing. Banking formalities were discussed by Mr Nalin Rai, DDM, NABARD, Ludhiana. Participants were also exposed to the experiences of progressive farmer S Gurpreet Singh Shergill, Majalpur Khurd, Patiala who is renowned for diversified farming, rose cultivation & its processing, preparation of vermicompost, fish farming, cultivation of gladiolus & marigold etc.