PAU holds entrepreneurship training programme for SC/ST beneficiaries

LUDHIANA; The Department of Processing and Food Engineering (DPFE), Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), under the aegis of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-All India Coordinated Research Project on Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology (AICRP on PHET), organized a one-day training programme on “Entrepreneurship Development Programme in Agro Processing for Better Livelihood.” Conducted under the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) of ICAR-43, the programme catered to 25 SC/ST participants.

During an orientation session, Dr MS Alam, Principal Scientist and Project In-Charge of AICRP on PHET, presented an expert lecture on small-scale agro-based enterprises for sustainable and remunerative income generation, highlighting the role of micro-enterprises in strengthening rural livelihoods.

Dr Rohit Sharma, Scientist, elaborated on farm-level processing of spices for enhanced economic returns, while Dr Manpreet Kaur Saini, Entomologist, provided a comprehensive session on scientific storage practices for food grains and pulses to reduce post-harvest losses and preserve quality.

Dr Gagandeep Kaur Nagra, Food Microbiologist, addressed the participants on mushroom processing for remunerative business, emphasizing the expanding market potential of mushroom-based products.

Dr Sandhya, Senior Scientist, discussed efficient, small-scale techniques for the processing of cereals and pulses, suitable for adoption at the village level. Participants were also provided  hands-on experience and practical demonstration of small-scale post-harvest machinery, enabling them to observe the operation and utility of equipment relevant to rural processing units.

Addressing the gathering, Dr TC Mittal, Head, Department of Processing and Food Engineering, congratulated the participants on successfully completing the training and reaffirmed the department’s commitment to enhancing livelihood opportunities for farmers and rural youth through accessible and innovative agro-processing technologies.

Earlier, the programme commenced with the participants’ registration, coordinated by Mr Kamaljeet Singh.

The programme concluded with the distribution of food processing kits and training material. The training underscored PAU’s continued dedication to empowering Scheduled Caste communities through skill development, entrepreneurship promotion, and improved access to value-adding agro-processing technologies.