CSK Palampur Equips Armed Forces Personnel with Modern Farming Skills
In a significant initiative aimed at helping defence personnel build new career opportunities beyond their service years, Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya (CSKHPKV), Palampur, has launched the 8th 16-week training programme on Protected Cultivation and Value Addition of Vegetables and Horticultural Crops.
The skill-development course, sponsored by the Directorate General of Resettlement (DGR), New Delhi, is designed for Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and equivalent ranks from the Indian Armed Forces, providing them with practical knowledge and modern agricultural skills that can support future livelihood opportunities.
The programme was inaugurated by Lt. Col. Aman from Holta Military Station, who praised the university for offering specialized and industry-relevant training to service personnel. Addressing the participants, he highlighted the importance of gaining practical and technical expertise that can be effectively used in agriculture and allied sectors after retirement. He also encouraged the trainees to make full use of the university’s resources, faculty expertise and hands-on learning opportunities.
42 Defence Personnel Join the Programme
Welcoming the participants, Dr. Chanderkanta Vats, Dean of the College of Community Sciences, said the training has attracted 42 personnel from the armed forces, including 29 from the Indian Army, five from the Indian Navy and eight from the Indian Air Force.
Senior university officials, including Dr. Vinod Sharma, Director of Extension Education; Dr. Ankur Sharma, University NCC Officer; and Dr. Suman Kumar, Senior Professor, also interacted with the participants. They emphasized that skill development and practical training can open new doors in agriculture, horticulture and agri-based entrepreneurship.
Focus on Modern Agriculture and Value Addition
Earlier, Dr. Lav Bhushan, Course Incharge, outlined the objectives of the programme and explained that it has been carefully designed to provide both scientific knowledge and practical exposure in modern farming techniques.
Over the next 16 weeks, participants will receive training in:
- Protected cultivation techniques
- Management of polyhouses and protected structures
- Nursery raising and crop production
- Cultivation of high-value vegetables and horticultural crops
- Integrated pest and disease management
- Post-harvest handling and storage
- Food processing, preservation and packaging
- Value addition of farm produce
The trainees will also gain hands-on experience through field demonstrations, practical sessions and exposure visits to successful agricultural enterprises.
Preparing Defence Personnel for New Opportunities
The training programme will continue until November 27, 2026, combining classroom learning with extensive practical exposure. University officials said the initiative reflects CSKHPKV’s continued commitment to empowering armed forces personnel with modern, technology-driven agricultural skills.
By blending scientific knowledge with real-world applications, the programme aims to help participants explore rewarding opportunities in agriculture and horticulture, enabling a smoother transition to productive and sustainable careers after their military service.
