AN OVERVIEW OF THE INSTITUTE

The natural resources are most important for sustaining agricultural production. The preservation and up-gradation of soil and water resources is being given the top priority at the national level. Therefore, the department of Soil and Water Conservation, Punjab has an important role in conservation of these resources. The department initiated its programmes with the twin objective of developing the resources for increased production and at the same time conserving the same for their future sustainability. The mammoth contribution of the department during last three decades has already set in motion the process of conservation of soil and water resources.

To generate awareness and impart training to farmers and officers of the department, Training Institute was established in the year 1965 at Hoshiarpur and upgraded to Divisional level in 1975. It was shifted to Mohali during the year 1995-96. The institute has been enlarging its canvas of training activities every year and has been successful in making them more need based and focused. A number of training programmes were undertaken in the identified core areas which cover multi-dimensional aspects of rural development.

TRAINING PROGRAMMES

The training programmes primarily focus on developments in conservation and management of natural resources i.e. soil and water of the state. This is carried on keeping in view the day to day changes and progress in order to prepare the officers of the department to cope up and accordingly change the horizon, which help the farmers and farming community better.

During the period under review, Training Institute organized a total of 32 programmes covering 605 participants.

Programmes Organised during April 2006 to March 2007

1. Academic Programmes

The objective of academic programme is to build awareness, skills and knowledge of the development functionaries for effective programme planning and implementation.

The training programmes are designed and organized keeping in view the day to day changes with constant updating in order to prepare officers to cope with the changes and adopt better delivery mechanisms for effective implementation of various schemes. During the period under review, Training Institute organized 18 programmes covering 225 officers of the department from various divisions. The topics covered under these programmes included Watershed Management, Planning and Implementation, Water Conservation Techniques, Role of Information Technology, Capacity Building and Community Organization etc.,

2. Public Extension Programme

Public extension plays a vital role in increasing production and productivity of agriculture in Punjab state. In order to respond to multifarious demands of the farming system, there is a need to readdress the capacity building of existing system effectively. Despite the rise of the private sector in the provision of agro services, public extension would continue to play a crucial role in agricultural development, in dissemination of technologies related to production management (crop and livestock), management of natural resources (land, water and soil), integrated pest management and other technologies associated with sustainable development, post harvest management and marketing. In view of the above Training Institute organized the 9 programmes covering 216 participants under following two categories:

2.1 Capacity Building & Community Organization:

Co-operative endeavour of mankind is as old as the existence of civilization. A minimal degree of co-operation and participatory approach among its members is quintessential for the very survival of the society. Essentially a socio-cultural process, it often translates into the realms of economy too & thereby plays an important role in safeguarding the vulnerable and unorganized sections of the people engaged in various economic activities.

With the growing importance of participatory approach and co-operation, there was need for exposing field personnel, watershed functionaries and farmers on different themes relating to social & managerial aspects in general and success stories in particular.

During the period under review, Training Institute organized 2 orientation progarmmes covering 25 departmental officials working in different watersheds. The following aspects were covered in these programmes:

·         Participatory Watershed Management

·         Community Organization: Formation & Management of SHGs, UGs and WC / WA

·         Preparation of Action Plan for Community Organization

·         Preparation of Action Plan for NRM and Agricultural Development

·         Implementation aspects

·         Process Monitoring

Training Institute organized 4 programmes covering 104 watershed functionaries and farmers from Nawan Shahr, Gurdaspur, Mukatsar and Mohali divisions. The themes covered under these programmes included Community Organization, formation of SHGs, UGs, WA/WCs etc, preparation of Watershed Plan, Common Land Development, Process Monitoring and Post Project Sustainability. The participants were exposed to the different livelihood and experiences of beneficiaries.

2.2 Activity Intensive Farming System

Agriculture is the backbone of Punjab's economy. It contributes almost 40 percent of the state's GDP and supports a large number of rural population. In the past four decades, Punjab has been contributing about 50 percent towards country's food stocks. However, all this has been achieved at a high cost of the natural resources of the state, especially land, water and environment.

A multidimensional approach aiming at conserving water & to revive agriculture in state is required. There is need to shift away from the present cropping pattern to an Activity Intensive Farming System, so as to increase the income as well as to provide enough work for all members of the farming family. Adoption of Dairy Farming, Organic vegetable growing, Mushroom cultivation, Bee keeping, Floriculture etc. can provide a suitable substitute to Rice-Wheat crop rotation.

So in context of above Training Institute organized 3 programmes covering 87 participants from Faridkot, Ferozepur, Nawan Shahr, Amritsar and Patiala divisions. The themes covered under these programmes included dairy farming, floriculture, organic / natural farming, bee keeping etc.   

Landmark:                               Women Empowerment

"Women represent 50 percent of the world adult population and a third of official force, they perform nearly two-third of all working hours, receive only a tenth of world income and own less than one percent of the world property".

-- World Conference of the United Nations - Decade for Women, Copenhagen, July, 1980.

Despite developmental planning and special status accorded to women in the Indian constitution, there has not been a substantial qualitative improvement in the position of a large majority of women living in rural areas. In view of empowering women at grass root level, NWDPRA & IWDP guidelines provide specific attention to this underprivileged group by inclusion in different activities of watershed.

Women in general play a pivotal role in the society. Improvement in their knowledge, attitude and skills (KAS) makes it possible to implement the watershed programmes successfully in an effective manner.

Nawan Shahr division has taken a lead by including 24 women in training programmes at Training Institute, Mohali. Kudos to Nawan Shahr team for working on women empowerment.

3. OFF CAMPUS PROGRAMME

The objective of exposure visits is to facilitate attitudinal changes among development personnel and opinion makers. The exposure visits are organized in the identified core areas by keeping in view to update the participants with latest. During the period under review, Training Institute organized 5 exposure visits covering 164 participants. The themes covered included Capacity Building & Community Organization, Micro Irrigation Systems, Activity Intensive Farming System, Intercropping and various improved Agronomical practices.

INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES

Training Institute is located at Soil Conservation Complex, Phase VI in the city of Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (Mohali). The institute's infrastructural facilities are as following:

Ø       Hostel with a capacity to accommodate 24 guests at a time.

Ø       One air conditioned conference hall with seating arrangement of 50 participants.

Ø       Up to date audio-visual aids.

Ø       A well equipped computer lab with Pentium 4 machines with internet connectivity.

Ø       A library 

Annexure I

Training Programmes Organized During April 2006 to March 2007

 Annexure II

Profile of Institute Faculty