Friday, October 11, 2013

SU horticulture students gain on-field experience

GANGTOK, 10 Oct: Final year students of Department of Horticulture, Sikkim University have been working with villagers to gain more practical knowledge of agriculture and horticulture in a month-long mandatory curriculum in different villages of Sikkim under the programme Rural Horticulture Work Experience (RHWE).
A press release informs that a total of seventeen B.Sc. (Horticulture) students divided into three groups stayed in Barfung (Ravangla), Reymindu (Rumtek), Sadam (Namchi) for one month starting from 03 September to 02 October 2013.
During their stay they interacted with local Panchayat office bearers, progressive farmers, NGOs and officers in charge of line departments like agriculture (FSADD), horticulture (HCCDD), animal husbandry (AHLF&VS), health (HCHSFWD) etc. and conducted Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) to map the resources of the village. Based on the village resource map they prepared a road map ahead for the development of rural community especially using agriculture and horticulture resources.
The students enthusiastically participated in the field demonstration programme of cultivation of major horticulture crops like large cardamom, peas, tomato, all Cole crops and capsicum. One group at Sadam (South Sikkim) village participated in a four-day training programme on mushroom cultivation and apiculture organized by KVK, Namthang.
At the end of the one month RHWE programme students experienced satisfaction that they could understand the rural community better. The attachment programme encouraged them to take a resolve to contribute to the development of rural community through the knowledge gained on horticulture, they added. The group of students extends their gratitude to Vice Chancellor of Sikkim University, Prof. TB Subba for extending financial support during their stay.
RHWE programme is part of the B.Sc (Horticulture) course curriculum in which students are expected to gain knowledge from experiences of farmers as well as transfer classroom teachings on horticulture to rural community wherever necessary, an assistant professor for Department of Horticulture stated.

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