Ramban: To enhance farmers’ technical skills and promote diversified agriculture in the district, a group of progressive farmers was Monday flagged off by MLA Banihal Sajjad Shaheen, for an exposure-cum-training visit to Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP).
The visit has been organized by the Department of Agriculture, Ramban under the component “Promotion of Floriculture”.
During the visit, the farmers will receive training in modern floriculture techniques, post-harvest management, marketing strategies and advanced apiculture practices including royal honey and bee venom collection, colony management, scientific honey extraction and pollination enhancement.
While flagging off the group, the MLA appreciated the Agriculture Department’s initiative and stressed the importance of such exposure visits in upgrading farmers’ skills and income opportunities. He encouraged the participants to make optimum use of the training and adopt modern scientific techniques for agricultural development in the district.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Agriculture Officer Dr. Vinay Kumar Jandial informed that the exposure tour has been planned under HADP and is aligned with the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative, wherein apiculture (beekeeping) has been identified as a key potential sector for Ramban. He added that the team will visit the Floriculture Research Farm, Beekeeping Research Station and Model Demonstration Units at PAU to gain practical exposure and interact with experts and progressive farmers.
Dr. Jandial further said that such programmes encourage farmers to adopt integrated farming models by combining floriculture and apiculture, creating multiple livelihood avenues and promoting rural entrepreneurship. He expressed confidence that the participants will act as resource persons in their respective areas after their return.
Among others present on the occasion included Fiyaz Ahmed Naik (DDC Member), Kuldeep Bassan (District Agriculture Officer), Jyoti Prakash (Subject Matter Specialist), Sub-Divisional SMSs, officers and officials of the Agriculture Department and field support staff of Sub-Division Ramban.