Srinagar, Nov 30: A weeklong existing management development program (E-MDP) on ‘Low-Cost Mushroom Cultivation: A Livelihood Prospect for Rural Youth’ conducted by Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir commenced on Thursday.
The program is organised by SKUAST-K’s Krishi Vikas Kendra, Ganderbal under the sponsorship of the Union Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India.
MSME Ministry envisions a progressive MSME sector by promoting growth and development and runs various schemes aimed at financial assistance, technology assistance and upgradation, infrastructure development, skill development and training, enhancing competitiveness and market assistance to MSMEs. Presently SKUAST-K is conducting 550 skill development programs in various parts of J&K and Ladakh for skill and upskilling of the youth towards entrepreneurship.
The E-MDP aims to popularise mushroom cultivation as a source of income for the marginal farmers and rural youth. Head, KVK, Ganderbal, Dr Ishfaq Abidi, emphasised the nutritional value of mushrooms and described mushroom cultivation as a viable and attractive activity for the rural youth. He encouraged the farmers to take up mushroom cultivation, as is it highly remunerative and can be a source of additional employment for them.
Dr Farooq Ahmad Ahanger, a scientist at KVK Ganderbal, gave a comprehensive overview of the programme and described the course outline of the programme. Dr Rouf Ahmad Khan (JKEDI) gave a detailed account of Mushroom Cultivation as an Agribusiness venture in J&K.
The participants will be trained in mushroom cultivation, harvesting, processing, value addition & marketing, spawn production, and disease and pest management in mushrooms.
SKUAST-K holds awareness prog on agri-business in Kulgam
Srinagar, Nov 30: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir held an awareness program on ‘Agri-Business Consultancy for Employment of Rural Youth and Services’ in Kulgam.
The awareness was organised by SKUAST-K’s Krishi Vigyan Kendra Kulgam under the Innovative Extension Approaches for Promoting Agriculture in Jammu and Kashmir Project of the Holistic Agriculture Development Program (HADP).
The program witnessed the participation of farmers, rural youth, students and entrepreneurs from different parts of the district Kulgam. Director Extension, SKUAST-K, Prof Dil Mohammad Makhdoomi, who was the chief guest at the occasion, encouraged the participants to avail the opportunities under HADP, emphasising its potential to render farming not only lucrative but also attractive to the youth and progressive farmers. He underscored the role of various technologies in bridging the gap between scientists and farmers and stressed the importance of Agri-business in enhancing agricultural income.
ADC Kulgam Showkat Ahmad Rather underscored the significance of the exchange of knowledge and ideas among farmers, rural youth and entrepreneurs, highlighting the profound and positive influence it holds for the agricultural landscape of the district. A healthy discussion about various schemes was there between the farmers and the officials.
Head, KVK Kulgam, Dr Manzoor A Ganai in his inaugural address highlighted the role of FPOs in increasing the income of the farming community in general and the country in particular.
