MUNDGOD: The Tibetan Settlement Office, Mundgod organized one-day training cum exposure tour to Krishi Mela at Agriculture University, Dharwad for 40 Tibetan farmers of Mundgod.

The training is aimed at creating awareness among the settlement farmers about the different farming methods, new fertilizers, seeds, herbal, medicinal plants, new farm machineries, food processing, scope for agribusiness and to develop skills for small entrepreneurship through exchange of ideas with the Indian farmers and training by the experts of the said University. Nearly 2 lakh farmers participated in the event with more than 500 stalls were installed.

Dr Usha Malagi, Dean, College of Community Science, welcomed the Tibetan farmers to the Institute and briefed them about the institution followed by remarks by experts namely Dr Renuka Salunki, Family Resource Management Department, Dr Veenad Jadhau, Family Resource Management Department, Dr Sarojani J. Karkarnuar, Food Science Department, Dr Pushpa Bharati, Food Science Department, Dr Hema Ratha, B. Tech Department.

Documentaries on success stories of farmers were screened in order to encourage the Tibetan farmers.

After the training session, the farmers were taken to University farms where a variety of crops were grown. They later visited the exhibition hall, seed and flower stall which is an exhibition cum sale. In this whole event, the Tibetan farmers actively participated and engaged in thorough interaction with the exhibitors.

Creating awareness among the farmers particularly the young progressive Tibetan farmers in Tibetan settlements is one of the important initiatives of the Department of Home. Such events are needed to be replicated in other Tibetan agricultural-based settlements in collaboration with the nearby Agricultural Universities.

The training project was led and coordinated by Agriculture Extension Officers Mr Tsering Choeden and Mr Tenpa Rinchen. It is funded by USAID.