Ensure linkage of farmers with markets

The 18th Scientific Advisory Committee meeting of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Solan at Kandaghat was held at the station on Tuesday. The meeting was conducted in the online and offline mode under the chairmanship of Prof Rajeshwar Singh Chandel, Vice-Chancellor, Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, for laying the roadmap of activities to be undertaken by the KVK in the coming year.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Rajeshwar Singh Chandel said that KVK must ensure the linkage of farmers with the markets so that they can easily take their agri-produce to the market. Professor Chandel emphasized on the need to shift towards a sustainable production system involving a holistic approach in natural farming. He added that the station has a unique locational advantage and this advantage can be used to create a USP for itself in the country and among the farmers. He asked the scientists to establish natural farming demonstration models in farmer’s fields which are easily accessible from the road so that the results can be easily viewed by everyone.  

Dr. VP Sharma, Director, Directorate of Mushroom Research, Chambaghat called for diversification in mushrooms and urged the scientists to promote the cultivation of shitake and medicinal mushrooms. Dr Parvender Sheron, Zonal Director ICAR ATARI Zone 1 said that KVK was doing good work on natural farming and urged the scientists to establish cluster and evidence-based SPNF models and called for laying demonstration on micro irrigation at the station. He asked the KVK to ensure that the certification courses are ‘Industry ready’. Dr. Sheron said that ATARI will conduct orientation programmes for new scientists of the KVKs so that they become well-versed in the working of the KVKs.

During the discussions, the representatives from the agriculture, horticulture and animal husbandry departments called for more joint programmes covering the activities of each other departments to achieve even better results in the training programmes.  Earlier Dr. Jitender Chauhan, KVK Coordinator presented the progress report of the KVK and the activities planned for the coming year. Dr Inder Dev, Director of Extension Education asked the line departments to share their feedback about farmer problems with the station s

The meeting was attended by Dr. Rajesh Rana, Principal Scientist ATARI, Dr. Shivali Thakur, SMS Hort, Dr. Sarita, HDO; Dr. Seema Kansal, Distt Agriculture Officer; Dr. Yog Raj, Project Director ATMA; Dr. Mandeep Kumar, Assistant Director Animal Husbandry; Karan Pathak, Kuldeep Sharma, Abhinav along with progressive farmers Padma Sharma. Kunal Angrish, DFO Solan and Progressive farmers Pawan Kaushal, Kamlesh and Sheela Sharma joined the meeting online.