Two-month training on Agri-Clinic and Agri-Business Centre concludes

GANGTOK, 10 Apr: Two-month training on Agri-Clinic and Agri-Business Centre (ACABC) concluded today at SAMETI hall, ICAR complex, Tadong. The training was organized by State Agriculture Management Extension and Training Institute, (SAMETI), under FS & ADD, Govt. of Sikkim, which had been identified as the Nodal Institute by MANAGE, Hyderabad. The training commenced on 01 February 2014 and the valedictory function was held today.

A press release informs that the training was organized in order to supplement public extension by providing extension and resources to the farmers, to support agriculture development and to create gainful self-employment opportunity to unemployment agricultural graduates.

The valedictory function was attended by Secretary, Agriculture, Phetuk Tshering Bhutia, as the chief guest. Nine participants had registered for the training, out of which 8 candidates were selected to undergo the two-month training. Seven candidates were agriculture graduates while one was an animal husbandry and veterinary science graduate.

27 Resource Persons were invited to conduct the training from Sikkim University, Sikkim Government Law College, SIBIN, SMIT, ICFAI, ZED Career and from Agriculture and Horticulture Department, the release informs.

As part of the training programme the participants were also taken for field visit (study tour) to South and West Sikkim. There the participants got the opportunity to interact with some of the self employed progressive farmers cum entrepreneurs of the state like Anden Sherpa and Tarkershwar Sharma. The participants were also taken to Mother Dairy Farm at Jorethang and Food Preservation Factory, (Sikkim Supreme) at Singtam to understand the coordination of man and machine and the set up of the entire factory.

On the last day of the training programme the participants presented their Detailed Project Report (DPR) through power point presentation to the Secretary. Later the hard copy of the DPRs was submitted to the Director, SAMETI. As per the scheme these trained candidates will avail the loan only after submitting their Detail Project Report in an effective manner, which was also suggested by the representatives from the Commercial Bank Section during the training programme, it is informed.

Candidates having a proper project for their respective business will be supported by the lead banks with 40% subsidy loan. The Project cost ceiling is up to Rs. 20 lakhs for an individual project where the repayment has to be done within 5 to 10 years.

During the valedictory function today Director SAMETI, SL Dorjee, also the Nodal Officer for this training programme, highlighted the gathering regarding the information on ACABC. The function was also addressed by AGM, NABARD, GC Negi and Secretary, Agriculture, PT Bhutia.