TrendingVideosIndia
Opinions | CommentEditorialsThe MiddleLetters to the EditorReflections
Sports
State | Himachal PradeshPunjabJammu & KashmirHaryanaChhattisgarhMadhya PradeshRajasthanUttarakhandUttar Pradesh
City | ChandigarhAmritsarJalandharLudhianaDelhiPatialaBathindaShaharnama
World | United StatesPakistan
Diaspora
Features | The Tribune ScienceTime CapsuleSpectrumIn-DepthTravelFood
Business | My MoneyAutoZone
UPSC | Exam ScheduleExam Mentor
Don't Miss
Advertisement

Farm varsity launches village adoption programme to empower communities

The team of Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur, for the Village Adoption Programme.

Unlock Exclusive Insights with The Tribune Premium

Take your experience further with Premium access. Thought-provoking Opinions, Expert Analysis, In-depth Insights and other Member Only Benefits
Yearly Premium ₹999 ₹349/Year
Yearly Premium $49 $24.99/Year
Advertisement

Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur, and the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Kundli (NIFTEM-K), Haryana, have jointly launched the Village Adoption Programme (VAP) under the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan. The Palampur Municipal Corporation and Mehnja village have been adopted for the initiative, aiming to empower communities through education and skill development.

Advertisement

Vice-Chancellor Prof Naveen Kumar highlighted the collaboration involving Dr. Anju Kapoor, Nodal Officer of Unnat Bharat Abhiyan, along with 19 Food Technology and Management students from NIFTEM, Haryana, guided by Dr. Rajni Chopra and Dr. Nitin Kumar. Over ten days, the team conducted awareness drives and workshops addressing hygiene, health, food safety, drug addiction, and packaging techniques.

Advertisement

Villagers were trained in household methods to detect food adulteration, and self-help groups (SHGs) were introduced to preservation techniques for local products such as jams, chutneys, and lemonade. NIFTEM students and SHG members exchanged knowledge during interactive sessions featuring traditional Himachali products like seera, bedwin roti, and bamboo shoot pickle.

The programme facilitated the Annapurna Group in obtaining an FSSAI license and created a nutrition label for the “Himachali Foodie Queen” brand. Other achievements included market surveys for pickles, compiling traditional recipes, and encouraging women entrepreneurs to formalize their businesses with FSSAI and GST licences.

In collaboration with CSIR-IHBT, the team explored pilot plant facilities, guided by Dr Ashok Pathera, who provided insights into food technology innovations. Cultural exchanges enriched students’ understanding of the region, fostering appreciation for local traditions and cuisine.

Advertisement

Community-centric activities like Swachhata Abhiyan at Government High School Mehnja and a Nasha Mukti Nukkad Natak at Government Girls Senior Secondary School Palampur addressed pressing social issues. The initiative demonstrated the transformative potential of education and collaboration, paving the way for sustainable community development.

Advertisement
Show comments
Advertisement