Agro-based Entrepreneurship Development Programme
Jharkhand : 07 - 11 July 2008
Haryana : 29 July - 02 August 2008

Vishwa Yuvak Kendra organised a Training Programme on Agro-based Entrepreneurship Development at Madhupur, Jharkhand, from 7-11 July 2008. The programme was conducted in collaboration with Lok Jagriti Kendra, Madhupur. A total of 38 farmers from 18 villages actively participated in the programme. Resource persons were from LokJagriti Kendra, Pravah, PRIA, Lok Prerna (all NGOs) and Krishi Vigyan Kendra, District Agriculture Offices and other agricultural scientists. The programme was very participatory. Vikas Kumar from Vishwa Yuvak Kendra and Arvind Kumar from Lok Jagriti Kendra coordinated the training programme.

Various topics such as types of soil, its composition, uses, cash crops for the region, importance of organic farming, irrigation, water conservation, insect, pest and disease management in different crops, horticulture in the area, vermicompost, crop insurance and use of information technology in agriculture, were covered during the programme. It was felt that similar training programmes should be held in future also, which would help them augment their skills and income.

On similar lines, a programme was conducted at Sonepat, Haryana, from 29 July-2 August 2008 in collaboration with Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), Sonepat. The venue was the office of the Market Committee, Anaj Mandi, Sonepat. A total of 65 farmers from 17 villages actively participated in the programme. Resource persons from Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Punjab National Bank, IFFCO, District Industry Centre took various sessions. Sub-Divisional Agriculture Officer (SDAO), senior officers from department of agriculture and some progressive farmers also shared their experiences with the farmers during the programme. The following topics were covered in this programme: Role of Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) programme for the development of farmers, various schemes of IFFCO for farmers, organic farming for sustainable agriculture, bee keeping and mushroom cultivation, weed control and water management, cultivation of herbal medicinal plants, floriculture, bank’s role in agriculture development, livestock production and management and the role of Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) for the development of farmers.

The five-day programme was inaugurated by Suresh Ambekar, Director, Vishwa Yuvak Kendra and O.P. Dalal, Sub-Divisional Agriculture Officer, Sonepat. Tapan Choudhury, Senior Programme Officer, Vishwa Yuvak Kendra, coordinated the programme.

A field visit was organised for the participants on 1 August. They visited two farms raised by successful farmers, where they saw the cultivation of mushroom, various herbal and medicinal plants, flowers, etc. They also saw the entire process of bee keeping. This visit encouraged and motivated the participants to experiment the same in their own areas.