India Region

Punjab agri-secretary visits PAU, lauds its skill development trainings

22 February 2022, Punjab: The Secretary (Agriculture) of Punjab Mr Dilraj Singh, IAS, visited the Skill Development Centre at the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and interacted with the Director of Research Dr Ajmer Singh Dhatt and the Director of Extension Education Dr Ashok Kumar. He was accompanied by the Director of the State Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Dr Gurvinder Singh.

Mr Dilraj Singh lauded the efforts of PAU in whetting the skills of the farmers, farm women and youths for the financial sustainability. Several programmes are being run by the Central government to hone the skills of the farmers, who in return after developing skills in agriculture and allied occupations are adding to the key value of agriculture, he added.

Dr Gurvinder Singh said that the trainings imparted by PAU to the farmers and farm women would enable them to scale greater heights in agriculture and contribute to the welfare of their families.

Dr TS Riar, Additional Director Communication and Associate Director (Skill Development), apprised the delegation of the training programmes being organised by the Skill Development Centre and the Punjab Agri-Business Incubator (PABI) for the farming community as well as the young entrepreneurs. Under PABI, two programmes ‘Uddam’ and ‘Uddan’ are being run as a part of which financial assistance is provided to the trainees to venture into their startups, he said. As a result, several farmers and entrepreneurs are getting remunerative returns from their startups, he added.