Agri-Business Incubators’ Conclave organized at PAU

Ludhiana: The “Agri-Business Incubators’ Conclave” was organized at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) today, wherein start-ups, investors, successful agri-entrepreneurs, industry experts and agriculture based stakeholders participated in large number. The conclave was organized by the Directorate of Extension Education in collaboration with PAU Kisan Club.

In his address, the chief guest Dr Rajbir Singh Brar, Director of ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute (ATARI), Ludhiana, said, “This conclave aims at sharing experiences and gaining knowledge. It will inspire the rural youths to become self-employed.” Focusing only on production is an old trend now, he stated, while calling upon farmers to become successful agri-entrepreneurs by processing and marketing their own products. Dr Brar appreciated the jaggery and honey products, prepared and displayed by the self-help groups at the stalls.

Mr Diljeet Pal Singh Brar, MLA, Vancouver, Canada and PAU alumnus, said the alumni of this University have carved a niche for themselves at national and international levels. He saluted PAU scientists who toiled hard to transform the nation from food deficit to food surplus. “There is no dearth of agricultural knowledge but implementing it properly is a challenge,” he observed, while citing successful examples of entrepreneurs based in Canada.

Dr JS Mahal, Director of Extension Education, PAU, informed about the objectives of Skill Development Centre at PAU. “In the present era of competition, honing the skills of the youth is vital,” he stressed. Dr Mahal urged the farmers, farm women and the rural youths to contribute as producers as well as processors.

Dr KS Thind, Additional Director of Research (Crop Improvement), while highlighting the research achievements of PAU, apprised the participants of different varieties of wheat, maize, oilseed, fruit and vegetable crops. He said crop varieties and their cultivation should be practiced keeping in view the market trends. Dr Thind also informed that the University was laying special emphasis on jaggery and shakkar making through the organization of training courses for the farmers.

Presenting the annual report of PAU Kisan Club, Dr TS Riar, Associate Director (Skill Development), said the University has formed nine clubs, comprising 6,700 farmers as their members. He also informed about the training programmes, being conducted by the Skill Development Centre for the benefit of stakeholders.

The Assistant Director of MSME Mr RK Parmar, Director of Punjab Start-ups Mr Sunil Chawla, agri- entrepreneur Mr Ravi Sharma, Manager of PUSA Mr Shivam Sharma, representative of Start-up India Mr Siddharath Sachdeva and representative of Coca Cola Mr Satinder Singh also graced the occasion and shared their views.

On the occasion, Bibi Jagir Kaur Award was bestowed on farm women Jaspreet Kaur, while Kisan Bibi Award was presented to Charanjit Kaur. In addition, farmers, namely Rajwinder Singh, GS Aujla, Kulwant Singh, Raj Kumar, Jagtar Singh and Gurpal Singh were awarded for soil health maintenance, organic farming, pesticide free cultivation, flower cultivation and beekeeping, respectively. Farmers, namely Sukhjeet Singh, Gurpreet Singh, GS Saran, Daljinder Singh, Ajit Inderpal Singh and Balwinder Singh were felicitated for their contributions to seed and nursery production, goat farming, pig faming, fisheries and agro-processing, respectively.

Later, Dr Mahal honoured the dignitaries with the mementos. During the conclave, souvenir of PAU Kisan Club, book authored by a progressive farmer MS Grewal, and brochure brought out by Skill Development Centre and Punjab Agri Business Incubator (PABI) were released. Nearly 50 stalls were put up on the occasion.