The Grassroots Innovators of Punjab (GRIP) Edition 4.0 was successfully launched at the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) today amidst the congregation of senior officials from the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology (PSCST), Chandigarh; PAU and Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana; as well as the students from DCM School of Entrepreneurs, Rajguru Nagar, Ludhiana, and the state farmers. The programme was jointly organised by the PSCST and the PAU under aegis of the Punjab government.
Launching the programme, the chief guest Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, put a spotlight on the state-of-the-art facilities being offered by the PAU to the young and old rural and urban-based farmers, women and the youths for the entrepreneurship development and steady flow of income. He highlighted the establishment of the Skill Development Centre for the fine-tuning of skills relating to agriculture and allied enterprises, and the Food Industry Business Incubation Centre for adding value to the food products. Besides, Dr Gosal informed about the ongoing projects comprising Punjab Agri Business Incubator (PABI) for launching and training of startups, and NIDHI-TBI for providing marketing-related guidance in product development, its packaging and labelling, etc. Stating that PAU was focusing on the development of censor-based technologies for irrigation and fertilizer-use, Dr Gosal disclosed the successful evolvement of farm machinery for the paddy straw management, and the association of 11 lakh farmers with the PAU via WhatsApp groups.
A special guest Dr JPS Gill, Vice-Chancellor, GADVASU, underlined the importance of innovation at the ground level. “Agriculture, livestock and value addition are labour-intensive occupations,” he observed, while making a call for pitching new innovative ideas and mechanizing equipments to reduce labour. Citing the importance of mechanical workers in the industry and small farmers in the fortification of livestock production, Dr Gill welcomed the startups in the dairy sector as it held an immense potential for value addition and economic gains.
Er Pritipal Singh, Executive Director, PSCST, who was the guest of honour, underscored the importance of rural innovation. “Punjabis have talent and contributed enormously to the development of machinery be it agricultural or industrial. But recognition of talent is must,” he emphasised. Additionally, he pointed to the difficulty being faced by the industry in the loading and transportation of paddy straw. Farmers’ innovation must be honoured for they provide a timely solution to the emerging problems, he stressed, while disclosing that 24 farmers have been recognized by the PSCST for the innovation and felicitation.
Dr Divya, Associate Professor of Chemistry, conducted the programme and proposed a vote of thanks. On the occasion, successful farmers, namely GS Kaler, Talwinder Singh and Surjit Singh Chaggar shared their innovative experiences of setting-up and evolving of Air Conditioned Apiary Migration Unit, Waster Straw Reaper Machine, and Tractor Operated Bed Maker, respectively. An exhibition highlighting the school student entrepreneurs’ and farmers’ innovations in agricultural machinery, beekeeping, and non-vegetarian food products were specifically lauded by the dignitaries and the visitors.
Later, Dr Gosal released a brochure and launched a video of GRIP. Dr Gosal and Dr Dhillon presented a set of two coffee table books, titled “Agricultural Development in Punjab: PAU’s Colossal Feat” and “Skilling Young and Old Punjab: PAU’s Colossal Feat” to Er Pritipal Singh.