ISAP conducts FACs in Rajasthan

Under project SHARE, Indian Society of Agribusiness Professionals (ISAP) has carried out 335 Farmers’ Awareness Camps / kisan Goshtis in last six months. These awareness camps and goshtis were held at Amravati (Maharashtra), Adilabad (Andhra Pradesh), Bundi and Bhilwara (Rajasthan). A team of senior officials from Monsanto and ISAP also participated in two such awareness campaigns held at Bundi and Bhilwara region on April 7-8, 2010. This team of senior officials includes Ms Jyotsna Bhatnagar (Lead CSR, Monsanto) and Dr Jatinder Manan (Manager, TED, Monsanto), Dr Satish Chandra (Director Technical, ISAP) and Mr Ved Prakash Sharma (Sr. Project Manager, ISAP).  First awareness camp, this team attended, was organized at Gothda village in Bundi district, where Scientists & Staff from KVK, State level Agriculture Research Centre and Department of Agriculture, govt of Rajasthan shared their knowledge, views and experiences with a modest gathering of 200 farmers from the surrounding villages. It proved to be a highly interactive event. Similar event was held on April 08^th, 2010 at Jahazpur (Bhilwara District). Besides scientists, 2 AAOs and some farmers from Banswara shared their experiences and observations of their exposure visit which was held for the last rabi makka crop with hybrid varieties in Banswara district in March. Ms Jyotsna Bhatnagar also spoke elaborately about the project objectives to the farmers and appealed especially to the women farmers to join this project. Dr Satish Chandra, Dr Swalka (Head, KVK Bundi) and Dr Jatinder Manan provided technical guidance to the farmers.

 

 Certificate distribution of SGSY program

A certificate distribution ceremony was held in Madhya Pradesh for the trained candidates of SGSY skill development program of 1st Batch. As many as 189 candidates were awarded course completion certificates on 15 and 17 April 2010 at Dhar and Sehore district, respectively. Employers from different industries like BIAF, LIC, and others were also present in the ceremony. Mr. K.K. Shrivastava (Divisional Manager- LIC) and Mr. Dwivedi (Project Officer BIAF) presented their inspirational and motivational thoughts to the rural youths and benefits of their program. Among the various invitees were Mr. Kanaujia, Project Coordinator KVK Sehore, C.E.O Sehore District and C.E.O Dhar Districts.

Orientation workshop on plant-pathology at KCC, Bhopal

An orientation workshop on plant pathology & genetics was held on April 12, 2010 at ISAP Kisan Call Center, Bhopal. All KCC experts participated in this workshop. Dr Aasish Tripathi, Senior Plant Pathologist from Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Chhattarpur informally and elaborately discussed with the KCC experts about various field oriented and recently updated plant-protection techniques. He touched upon the recent developments in techniques of plant-protection for paddy, wheat, sugarcane, chilly, cucumber and pulses.  Dr Tripathi also used audio-visual materials during his presentation. After this, Dr Motwani exchanged information of organic ways of controlling pest & diseases of various crop plants, which have proved valuable in the farmers’ fields.

 

 

ISAP-KCC starts organic helpline

Indian Society of Agri-business Professionals (ISAP) has started a helpline for both consumers and producers in MP state to address their problems related to organic farming and organic products. Both farmers and consumers can call the experts on toll free number (1800 233 44 33) to look for solutions to their queries. Organic products are generally sold at premium. There is a niche market developing among an elite consumer segment for organic products. But still consumers have lot of apprehensions about the product and techniques adopted in its production particularly because there is little awareness about the basic characteristics of the organic products. At the same time, farmers also need regular assistance of experts during critical stages in the production process as they too are not fully aware about the certification processes and regulations. Experts at ISAP KCC are receiving queries on plant protection techniques from the farmers particularly as they like to know more about organic methods of controlling pests say in cucurbits, okra etc., and organic techniques of controlling premature dropping of flowers & leaves in papaya. The KCC seems like taking good care of these queries and there seems to be a good level of satisfaction among those who raise the queries.

Entrepreneurship Development Program

ISAP is running Entrepreneurship Development Program in 9 states under the aegis of MANAGE. This training is provided to unemployed agriculture and allied sector graduates. After training, ISAP provides active hand-holding support to these trained agripreneurs for the setting up their own business venture. ISAP has so far trained 1378 agripreneurs in Assam, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, J&K, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland and Punjab. Some of the agripreneurs have established their independent business successfully. We share one such success story with our readers in ISAP newsletters.

Success-story (J&K)

Mr. Gulzar Ahmad a resident of Budgam, J&K completed his 2-months training at ISAP training center in Srinagar on February 18, 2009 with ID No- JAM0846. Subsequent to this training, he started a Agro-input unit and agri-consultancy Services with own investment of Rs 5 lakh. He’s earning average Rs 5,000/- per month from this unit. He is catering nearly 300 farmers of adjacent 45 villages. ISAP wishes Mr. Ahmad continued success in his venture.