In-charge Senior Scientist-cum-Head of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Reasi, of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology-Jammu (SKUAST-J), Dr. Banarsi Lal presented the paper titled “Impact of vocational training programmes on income of the rural youth and farmers of hilly areas of Jammu & Kashmir, India” in the national conference on “Impact of agricultural technologies in enhancing growth and income” held at SKUAST-J.The paper was co-authored by Dr. Vikas Tandon, Sr. Scientist-cum-Head, KVK, RS Pura, Jammu, Dr.Shahid Ahamad, Deputy Director Research, SKUAST-J and Jagdish Kumar, Computer Programmer, KVK, Reasi.The high valued research paper based on the impact of vocational trainings programmes imparted by KVK, Reasi intends to generate the income and employment among the rural youths in both hilly districts of Reasi and Udhampur.During the presentation, Dr. Lal deliberated that Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) is an innovative science based institution which plays an important role to bring the agricultural scientists in direct contact with the farmers. He informed that vocational training programmes imparted by the KVK have been designed on the basis of important needs of the clientele, their resources, constraints and nature of the eco-system.
Through the paper, he elaborated on the research methodology involved in the study. He informed that study was conducted in both Reasi and Udhampur districts as KVK is catering to the agricultural needs of the farmers of both the districts. He highlighted the vocational trainings on organic farming, commercial floriculture, entrepreneurship development in agriculture, backyard poultry, poultry farming as an entrepreneurship, fruit and vegetables processing and scientific mushroom cultivation.The paper also depicted that vocational training programmes play an important role in entrepreneurship development among the rural youths which in turn brought a positive change in their socio-economic standard. It is said that such training programmes can be replicated elsewhere and some more need based vocational training programmes may be incorporated so that rural youths can earn their livelihood.During the presentation, Dr. Banarsi also had discussion with the other delegates in the conference.Meanwhile, a success story of KVK, Reasi on Integrated Farming System was also released by the Vice Chairman of Farmers Advisory Board, Daljeet Singh Chib and other dignitaries.