School of Agriculture (SOA), Uttaranchal University is conducting Experiential Learning Programme (ELP)/ Agri-entrepreneurship development Programme in Beekeeping, Sericulture, Nursery Management in horticultural Crops, and Mushroom Cultivation, respectively in university campus from 6th March, 2023 to 15th May, 2023 for the UG students of Agriculture.
The aim of this programme is to enhance the practical knowledge of students in emerging sectors of agriculture like beekeeping, sericulture, nursery management, and mushroom cultivation and skill them for resource management, Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Quality Control (QC), Value addition, Logistics & Transportation (LT), Supply chain and marketing of above Agricultural products. Through this training programme students also become enabled to make economic analysis for entrepreneurship development.
Module wise Specific Skill/Entrepreneurship/Employability development activities
- Beekeeping: The students got practical knowledge on beekeeping and developed skills in identification of honeybees, their enemies, disease management, extraction of honey, value addition and marketing of bee products. They learnt about basic requirements for growing business in beekeeping, factors important for good quality of honey, how to improve the shelf life of bees products, etc. They also become well aware about the funding agencies for starting a new business in Beekeeping. Training instructor at the end of the programme described strategies for advertising and marketing bee products.
- Sericulture: Sericulture is the rearing and management of silkworm for the production of raw silk. In this training students got practical exposure of chawki rearing of mulberry silkworm (Bombyx mori) and mountage of matured or ripe silkworms for cocoon formation. They developed their skills in post cocoon management and reeling of silk threads and different disease identification during rearing of larvae. They also learnt about cultivation of mulberry plants for required leaves for larvae feeding.They also become well aware about the funding agencies for starting a new business in Sericulture. Training instructor at the end of the programme described strategies for advertising and marketing of cocoons for extraction of raw silk.
- Nursery Management of Horticultural Crops: Nursery raising is an integral component in horticultural crops which plays a pivotal role in quality production. Students enhanced their skills in preparation of various nursery beds, nutrient media and plant bioregulators. They engrossed technical know-how of micropropagation which is the need of the hour for mass multiplication of disease free plants. Students also proficiently learnt technicalities of grafting, cutting, budding and other vegetative methods of propagation in fruit crops. Training ended with management of transplanted vegetable crops to enhance production and productivity.
