Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Booh, Tarn Taran organized a one-day exposure visit for Scheduled Caste (SC) farmers of Tarn Taran district to Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University’s Experimental Dairy Plant at the Ludhiana campus under ICAR SC-SP Scheme. The visit aimed to provide hands-on training in dairy value addition techniques to promote sustainable livelihood opportunities in the border areas. The initiative, coordinated by Dr. Piverjeet Kaur Dhillon for a batch of 40 trainees comprising both male and female participants. The training was designed to enhance their knowledge and skills in scientific dairy processing, product diversification, and entrepreneurship development..JPG)
Dr. Prabjeet Singh, Deputy Director (Training) KVK Booh, informed that the exposure visit forms part of the centre’s broader efforts to empower marginalized communities through practical skill development in animal and dairy sciences. During the session, Dr. Ravinder Singh Grewal, Director of Extension Education, interacted with the farmers and encouraged them to enroll in skill-oriented vocational courses offered by the university and its regional research stations. Dr. Grewal said “Such training sessions not only educate but also inspire farmers to explore value-added dairy products as a viable means for income generation”.
The participants were introduced to various dairy processing techniques at the Experimental Dairy Plant and the Food Technology Laboratory of the College of Dairy & Food Science Technology. They received comprehensive training in Milk pasteurization and packaging, Ice cream processing and packaging, Atta biscuit production, Detection of milk adulteration using Varsity-developed kits.
Dr. Rekha Chawla, delivered a lecture and live demonstration on ice cream manufacturing and packaging. Dr. Manvesh Kumar Sihag, showcased the university’s milk adulteration detection kits, emphasizing food safety at the household level. Dr. Gopika Talwar conducted a detailed interaction with the participants, addressing their specific areas of interest and sharing highlights of the university’s extension programs. Lauding the initiative, Dr. J.P.S. Gill, Vice Chancellor remarked: “We are committed to inclusive development by equipping underprivileged communities with scientific knowledge and practical skills. This program reflects our mission to transform rural livelihoods through education, innovation, and entrepreneurship in the livestock and dairy sectors.”
The visit marked a meaningful step toward empowering SC farmers through capacity building and value addition, thereby enabling sustainable income generation and improving socio-economic standards in the border belt of Punjab.
