Biotech Park organized a Training Programme for the empowerment of rural women and farm workers. More than one hundred fifty women and men from nearby villages Barabanki, Sitapur, Pratapgarh, Mau and Shrawasti. participated in training. Dr. P.K. Seth, CEO addressing the trainees said that women in our society have to get acquainted with the modern tools of agriculture so that the output of produce from food crops in the field and of fruits and flowers from orchards can be increased with the use of biofertilizers – vermicompost and bacterial and biopesticides and application of tissue culture raised plants.
The women should know that how with small field they can produce high value medicinal and aromatic crops like mentha, geranium, lemon grass and tulsi and obtain essential oils a resource for medicine and fragrances and make value added products using the facilities set up at park. He informed them about various facilities particularly aqueous distillation unit, solvent extraction plant, spray dryer etc.
The women also need to be educated about the quality aspects of the products. He said that the real rural development would be possible only through the involvement of women who work in fields and share the responsibilities of running the family. He said empowerment fo woman with biotech skill will go a long way in rural development. Dr. Seth said that I am happy that a number young girls have also came for the training as they will be more benefited and would be able to create self employment. since they are studying and have the knowledge of science
Mr. Saurabh Mishra, CEO, M/s Hindustan Agribiotech Ltd. informed about benefit of using vermicompost and other biofertilizer. He explained in length that vermicompost can be produced almost at no cost since the farmer can use cow dung available within the village or in his own farms, collect vegetable waste and procure the earthworm. The farmer can produce vermicompost not only for themselves but also in abundance to sell. He said good quality vermicompost is in great demand.
The women were given hands on training for preparing vermicompost, by Mr. Ram Prasad, Horticulture Incharge at Bioech Park. They filled the pits with cow dung, agri waste and earthworm for the production of vermicompost at vermicomposting unit of Biotech Park. The women and other farmers also visited the quality control lab. and saw how the material is tested and quality is checked. They learnt method for raising of biofuel plants using Jatropha cutting and hardening them, reparation of oil from Jatropha Seeds and its house hold uses. They saw the method of extraction of Jatropha oil from Jatropha seeds using expeller, further its purification of oil by filtration. The participants lit the lantern and earthen lamp using Jatropha oil. They were learnt how to prepare rose water using aqueous distillation. The women and other farmers visited the industries located at Biotech Park.
The participants showed a great enthusiasm interest and interacted with the Scientist and technical staff of the Park. Several of them said they would set up vermicomposting units in their farms and start plantation of some medicinal and aromatic plants and use the Biotech Park facilities. Several of them desired for more training programmes like this.
