Sangrur, 4 September:- Under the leadership of Directorate of Extension Education of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana and Director, ICAR-ATARI, Zone-1, Ludhiana, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sangrur organized a five-day vocational training course on the topic "Seed Production - As an Enterprise" for farmers and rural youth, in which 19 farmers participated. The main objective of this training was to provide farmers with additional income and means of employment.
During the inaugural session of the training, Dr. Mandeep Singh, In-charge, PAU-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sangrur warmly welcomed the participating farmers and threw light on the scope and importance of seed production as an allied enterprise in agriculture. He also gave information about vocational training courses and other extension activities conducted from time to time by the centre.
Coordinator of this training course Dr. Rukinder Preet Singh Dhaliwal, Assistant Professor (Agronomy) gave information to the trainees about scientific techniques for seed production of paddy, wheat, maize, moong and potato crops. He discussed in detail the importance of good seed source for high quality seed production, isolation distance of crops and varieties, roguing of weeds and diseased plants and storage of seeds of various crops. Management of seed-borne diseases was also discussed in detail with the farmers.
Dr. Ravinder Kaur, Associate Professor (Vegetable Science) discussed techniques of vegetable seed production and also shared information about economics of vegetable seed production.
Shri Damanpreet Singh, Agriculture Development Officer (Seed), Sangrur made the farmers aware about the provisions of "Seed Act 1966" and shared information and procedure for obtaining seed producer and seed seller license from the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Punjab.
Dr. Boota Singh Romana, Director, Akal Seed Farm, Mastuana Sahib shared his vast experience of seed production with the participating farmers. He also gave information about the importance of seed grading for producing quality seeds and various stages of seed grading.
An educational tour of the trainees was also conducted to Akal Seed Farm, Mastuana Sahib and Regional Research Centre, Kheri, where they gained practical knowledge about the practical and scientific aspects of seed production.