PAMETI, in collaboration with MANAGE, organized a 4 days online training programme on "Agricultural Marketing for Extension Professionals" from 24-27 September, 2024. The objective of the training was to refresh the knowledge about marketing concepts to the trainees. Various marketig strategies for enhancing farmers' income was discussed during the training by various marketing experts. Training also included sessions about different government and private initiatives to strengthen the supply chain management and marketing in agricultural and allied sectors.

A total of 99 paticipants registered for this programe which included extension functionaries from state agricultural and allied departments, scientists from SAUs/ICAR institutes, entreprenurs, FPOs and farmers from across the country.

The programme started with inauguration by Dr K B Singh, Director PAMETI and Dr Shalendra Singh, Director (AM), MANAGE.The introductory session was taken by Dr Ramandeep Singh, Director, School of Business Studies, PAU who delibrated about basic marketing concepts. Mr Ramesh Mittal, Director CCS NIAM, Jaipur discussed the current opportunities and challenges in agricultural merketing. Sessions on E- Marketing, Forward and Futture Markets, Supply Chain Management etc. were organized during the trainiing. Participants interacted with the experts, got answers to their queries and gave positive feedback about the progarmme.

PAMETI, in collaboration with MANAGE, organized a 3 days online training programme on "Carbon Credits in Agriculture" from 18-20 September, 2024. The objective of the training was to educate the participants about what carbon credits are, how they are created and how they can be traded in carbon markets. The progarmme focussed on discussing different agricultural practices that can be optimized to reduce carbon emissions and capture carbon in the soil, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation. The training was also aimed to highlight about how farmers can generate adiitional income through carbon credit trading.

A total of 85 paticipants registered for this programe which included extension functionaries from state agricultural and allied departments, scientists from SAUs/ICAR institutes, entreprenurs, FPOs and farmers from across the country.

The programme started with inauguration by Dr K B Singh, Director PAMETI and Dr N Balasubramani, Director (CCA), MANAGE. During the introductory session, Dr S S Kukal, Former Professor and Dean, College of Agriculture, PAU discussed the importance of reducing the carbon emission and fight the challenge of climate change. Dr D K Benbi, National Professor, PAU discussed various carbon sequestration techniques in agriculture. Training included practical sessions by Mr Mallesh Tigali from Culyvate and Dr Ranjodh Singh from CIPT where they discussed the carbon credits projects taken by Center of International Projects (CIPT), New Delhi in various districts of Punjab. Mr Sanjeev Tiwari, IFS, Conservator of Forests, Punjab discussed the scheme run by Dept. of Forests and Wild Life Conservation for carbon credits to farmers. Various experts from EEI, Hyderabad, PJTSAU, Hyderabad, Boomitra Pvt. Ltd. and PRSC, Ludhiana also took sessions covering various aspects of carbon credits in agriculture.

Participants took interactive part in the online session. They congratulated PAMETI and MANAGE for conducting a training on this very relevant and need of the hour topic. They also took keen interest in the topics discussed and appreciated the sessions by the experts.

In order to fulfill the national objective of self-reliance in edible oils, “National Mission on Edible Oils - Oil Palm (NMEO-OP)” emphasized on promoting oilseed crops. Cultivation of oilseeds not only diversify from water guzzling crops but also help in growth of the agro-processing industry and environmental sustainability.

Therefore, a total of 3 two-day trainings under NMEO-OP were organized for field officers of State Department of Agriculture from the following districts:

A total of 70 officials were trained in practicalities of oilseed crops cultivation. Exposure visits to demonstration plots at PAU and processing machinery at CIPHET, Ludhiana were also conducted as part of the programme.

Urban agriculture provides opportunities to urban communities to grow their own fresh, organic and nutritious food. It includes kitchen gardening, rooftop gardening, vertical gardening, hydroponics, aquaponics, etc. Green spaces thus created in urban areas, improve environment and biodiversity.

Keeping this in view, a collaborative training with EEI, Nilokheri was organized from July 23-26, 2024 which was attended by 30 participants from state agriculture and allied departments. Sessions on kitchen gardening, dish gardens, hydroponics, growing medicial and herbal plants, home garden landscaping, household waste management, etc. were organized during the training. Exposure visits to model Integrated Farming System (IFS) and hydroponics farms, PAU were also conducted. Trainees also visited the rooftop garden of a local resident S. Rajinder Singh Kalra, a member of Green Thumb Foundation-NGO at Ludhiana where they intercated with him and witnessed his hard work and passion towards urban farming.