OUR CORRESPONDENT
Gangtok: The College of Agricultural Engineering & Post Harvesting Technology (CAEPHT) under Central Agriculture College located here at Ranipool will be launching shortly vocational training and entrepreneurship development programmes.
The training will be in manufacturing technology of agricultural equipment, micro-irrigation for mechanization of hill agriculture, rural based process and value addition of crops produced in Sikkim.
The objective is to impart skilled training to unemployed youth and school dropouts to promote entrepreneurship for self-employment with view to raise their level of income, said the CAEPHT in a press statement. The programme may be launched around March 15.
The training will focus on self-employment opportunities such as setting up of small village enterprises, repair and maintenance of agricultural equipment, functional knowledge and skill on improved manufacturing of equipment cost effectively, agri-business shop dealing with spare parts/consumable, seeds and others.
The sole purpose is that the entrepreneur would play leadership role to facilitate the use of local resources to meet the local needs at affordable prices to farmers and villagers besides creating job avenues for others without depending on wage based employment, the college said.
“Based on the response of interested youths the college may start the programme with 3-5 participants to begin with. The entire training cost including lodging and boarding of the participants in the college hostel may be borne by the College. However, there exists no provision for stipends for the participants”, said the college.
Interested youths of Sikkim seeking enrolment in the vocational training programme are to contact the CAEPHT dean, says a press release.

STAFF REPORTER
Gangtok: A training programme was conducted for the cultivation of Gerbera at Model Floriculture Center at Namli, East Sikkim, on 4th February, in which 30 farmers of Basilakha, Centi and Rumtek participated.
The farmers were taught the modern techniques of commercial cultivation of Gerbera. A practical field demonstration was conducted along with farmers’ participation on preparation of beds, soil sterilization, application of manure, planting method and the method of harvesting. The participants were also taught the technique of soil preparation, since planting in the farmer’s field would start from the 1st week of March.
The training was conducted by Deputy Director (Floriculture East), Mrs Anita Thapa, Deputy Director (Floriculture) Mr. Padam Subba, HDO Mr. Khagan Gurung and HDO Miss Kesang Lachungpa, informs a press release.

OUR CORRESPONDENT
Gangtok: A day long program on livestock management & poultry production cum calf rally was organized by state AH, LF&VS Department west Sikkim at Timburbung under Soreng Chakung constituency. The main objective of the program was to aware farmers on result oriented technology of high potency for predictable result with uninterrupted income generation at villages for sustainable livelihood of the marginal farmers.
As such animal wealth in Sikkim has increased manifold and the animal husbandry practices have change to a great extent following the introduction of newer technologies particularly cross breeding & up gradation of indigenous breeds.
The program was conducted by Bhim Shankar Dahal & presided over by Renuka Sharma Zilla Panchayat Tiburbung Tharpu.
At the outset of the program Dr Tewari deliberated on livestock management practices in scientific way. He also informed the gathering on sanitation & hygiene, housing & feeding of balance diets for optimum productivity, prophylaxis & curative methods of prevalent diseases.
Dr. S.P Bhutia spoke on poultry production. He assured that in case of uninterrupted production to meet the demand, “we can make potential market provision for all type of livestock products at village level”. He also informed about NABARD venture capital scheme.
Chief Guest deliberated on the needs of such training in all the villages. She also expressed gratitude to area MLA for initiating such opportunity in the village.