JAMMU: In a step forward to provide employment opportunities to the young entrepreneurs, the Department of Horticulture Jammu is conducting a series of “One month Training Courses in Fruit and Vegetable Preservation” at Panchayat level in different blocks of Jammu Division.
One such programme for imparting one month training in the art of fruit & vegetable preservation concluded today at Panchayat Athem of block Nagrota. Director Horticulture Jammu, , Ram Savak was the chief guest at the the valedictory function.
Chief Canning & Processing Instructor Jammu Gul Sayeed, Chief Horticulture Officer Jammu Ashwani Sharma, DL Subject Matter Specialist Jammu Sandeep Gupta, Manager cum Chemist Jammu Uttam Chand, HDO Sandeep Sharma besides Sarpanch Shoba Rani and a large number of women farmers were present on the occasion.
During the programme, Director Horticulture Jammu Sh. Ram Savak, distributed the certificates to the trainees for completing the one month training course in the art of fruit and vegetable preservation.
While addressing the gathering of women entrepreneurs and farmers, he emphasized on the need for establishment of individual processing units for fruit processing/ fruit drying/ spices preparation etc. for which the Department of Horticulture is providing 50-60 perecnt subsidy.
He said that women farmers should form their Farmers Club/ FPO’s / Self Help Group’s so that they can establish processing units on community level and take this business as an entrepreneurship. He said that the value addition of fruit products will not only reduce the post harvest losses of fruits, but also provide employment opportunities for the youth.
The director also briefed them about the various Centrally and UT sponsored schemes of the department, especially Holistic Agriculture Development Plan (HADP) and urged them to come forward, associate with the horticulture department and avail the benefits on different components.
Earlier, Chief Canning & Processing Instructor Jammu Gul Sayeed told that about 80 nos. of women participants has been trained in the art of fruit & vegetable preservation at panchayat Athem. He appreciated the trainees for taking keen interest in the training programme.
Chief Horticulture Officer Jammu Ashwani Sharma explained in detail about the various departmental schemes and impressed upon them to take the benefit of training programmes.
DL Subject Matter Specialist Jammu Sandeep Gupta, Manager cum Chemist, Uttam Chand and HDO Sandeep Sharma also spoke on the occasion.
Sarpanch Pyt. Athem, Shoba Rani presented vote of thanks during the programme.
Women trainees also thanked the Department of Horticulture for providing such a training to them at their door steps.