JAMMU: A one day Workshop cum Training Programme on Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACs) and Cooperatives was organized today at the Centre for Cooperative Management (CCM), Jammu.
The programme was conducted by CCM Jammu in collaboration with the Jammu & Kashmir Dairy Cooperative Federation Limited (JKDCF) and the Cluster Based Business Organization (CBBO).
Commissioner Secretary Cooperative Department, Babila Rakwal chaired the programme. The event was also attended by Mohd. Shafiq Chak Registrar Cooperative Societies, Bal Krishan, Additional Registrar, Jammu; Priyanka Bhat, Joint Registrar (Audit) and Bhawani Atri, Deputy Registrar, Jammu District.
The programme commenced with a welcome address by Preeti Sharma, Joint Registrar (Special), Cooperative Societies-cum-Principal, CCM Jammu, who highlighted the importance of capacity building initiatives in strengthening the cooperative institutions and Farmer Producer Organisations for sustainable rural development in Jammu & Kashmir.
The Commissioner Secretary also interacted with the participants belonging to various PACs, FPOs and Cooperative institutions of the Jammu Division. She discussed the key objectives of the programme, emphasizing capacity building, strengthening of farmer collectives and sustainable growth of cooperative institutions.
The primary objective of the workshop was to enhance understanding of cooperative institutions, particularly PACs and FPOs. Besides, the initiative was intended to build capacity for their effective functioning, with a focus on farmer empowerment, improved governance and sustainable economic growth.
The technical sessions were conducted by the expert resource persons. Amit Kumar, FPO Development Officer, Jammu, discussed funding mechanisms for PACs and FPOs. He highlighted the Jammu & Kashmir Competitive Improvement of Agriculture and Allied Sectors Project (JKCIP).
Vikrant Dogra, Chairman, JKDCF (CBBO), shared insights into the functioning of FPOs and cooperatives, emphasizing good governance and effective management practices.
Meenakshi Sharma, MIS/IT Expert, demonstrated the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) Portal while Neetu Khajuria, Manpower Speaker, conducted an interactive session on soft skills focusing on leadership, communication, and team building.
The sessions provided participants with a comprehensive understanding of institutional frameworks, governance, digital tools and managerial skills. These also served as a platform for interaction and experience sharing among the stakeholders.
The programme concluded with the distribution of Certificates of Participation among the attendees. Karan Gupta, Assistant Registrar, delivered the vote of thanks.
