LUDHIANA,
A four-member delegation of Agriculture Extension Officers from Chhukha, Bhutan, is on a seven-day visit to Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) to acquire training in mushroom cultivation. The delegation, comprising members Sonam Choki, Kinzang Wangchuk, Thinley Gyetts Hen and Damber Singh Mongar, interacted with the senior officials, heads of the departments and faculty of PAU today.

Sonam Choki said, “Bhutan is a mountainous country where farm mechanization is poor and agriculture is labour intensive. The country has 70 per cent forest area and 8 per cent arable lands. Wheat and rice are the major crops.” The production of mushrooms is very low in Bhutan, she observed while adding that they are produced only for human consumption. “Our visit to PAU aims at gaining knowledge about the cultivation of white button mushrooms, which we wish to introduce in Bhutan,” she stated.

Welcoming the delegates, Dr Ashok Kumar, Director of Extension Education, highlighted the role of PAU in transfer of agricultural technologies to the farmers. “The trainings at PAU will give a lot of benefit to you in terms of increasing production of mushrooms in Bhutan,” he said to the delegates.

Dr Jagdish Kaur, Additional Director Communication, informed about the farm publications being brought out by PAU for enhancing and updating the knowledge of the farmers.

Dr T.S. Riar, Professor of Extension Education and Coordinator of the training programme, explained the role of PAU’s Directorate of Extension Education in agriculture development of Punjab.

The Technical Coordinators, Dr Shammi Kapoor, Head, Department of Microbiology, and Dr H.S. Sodhi, a mushroom expert, also interacted with the visiting delegation and explained them about the technical aspects of mushroom growing.

During the training, the delegates would visit Krishi Vigyan Kendras at Noormahal (Jalandhar), Amritsar and Samrala (Ludhiana) for practical experience. In addition, they would visit mushroom and beekeeping units, new orchards, vegetable farm, Museum of Rural Life of Punjab at PAU and progressive farmer’s field at Amritsar.