Himalayan Forest Research Institute Shimla organized a training programme

Himalayan Forest Research Institute Shimla organized a training programme in collaboration with
Krishi Vigyan Kendra Jammu on “Productivity Enhancement and Sustainable Livelihood through Forest
Technology Interventions. The programme was organized at KVK Jammu, SKUAST, which is working
under the able and visionary leadership of Prof. J.P. Sharma, Vice-Chancellor, SKAUSAT, Jammu, J&K,
which was attended by large number of farmers, mahila mandals, youth clubs, etc. from different
villages of Jammu region. At the outset of the programme Dr. Punit Choudhary, Senior Scientists and
Head KVK welcomed all dignitaries and participants. The programme was inaugurated by Dr. S.S.
Samant Director, HFRI, Shimla, who was the chief guest of the occasion. Professor Susheel Kumar
Gupta, Registrar, SKUAST, Jammu and Dr S.K. Gupta, Director, Extension, SKUAST, Jammu were guest
of honour of the occasion. Dr Jagdish Singh, Scientist-F and Head Extension Division HFRI, Shimla brief
about the importance of this training programme. He apprised participants that without forestry we
can to think of agriculture as both fields are inter connected. Dr S.S. Samant in his inaugural address
brief about the achievements and activities of the HFRI. He informed that HFRI is one of the regional
institute of ICFRE, which has jurisdiction of working in state of Himachal Pradesh and Union territories
of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. He further added that HFRI has developed nursery and
propagation techniques of conifer species and has suggested the remedial measures to tackle the
regeneration problems of high temperate conifers viz., Fir and Spruce. Dr. S.K. Gupta, Registrar also
addressed the gathering and told that productivity enhancement and sustainable livelihood
generation through forest technological intervention is need of hour. The income of farmers can be
doubled through collective efforts of all research institution related to this filed. And forestry research
can play also big role, Dr. S.K. Gupta, Director, extension in his address thanked HFRI, Shimla for
organizing this training programme in collaboration with SKUAST, Jammu and hoped that this training
programme would benefit farmers. In technical session, Dr Jagdish Singh delivered talk on forest
technology intervention for livelihood generation. He stressed that besides, horticulture and
agriculture cropping the inclusion of medicinal plants as intercrop can give additional income to
framing communities. Dr. Sandeep Sharma, Scientist-G and Group Coordinator Research, HFRI, Shimla
talked about Modern nursery technologies for raising quality planting material for productivity
enhancement. Dr Punit Chaudhary, Head KVK, Jammu delivered lecture on role of agroforestry in
productivity enhancement. He stressed that agroforestry augment livelihood pf people. Dr. Lalit
Mohan Gupta, Head, Agroforestry, SKUAST, Jammu gave a presentation on cultivation of medicinal
plants for augmentation of Rural income. Whereas, Dr Sandeep Sehgal briefed about importance of
traditional agroforestry in meeting the bonafide need of rural communities. DR. Sanjay Khajurai
discussed about role of Bamboo in ecological and livelihood security. Dr Vaneet Jhistu, Scientist, HFRI
delivered lecture on Hill bamboo and its role in enhancing rural income. Inclosing session all queries
of farmers were answered by expert opinions of all resource person. Farmers found training
programme very beneficial and hoped that such training programme would be organized in future for
the benefit of farming communities.