Current Programmes

2. Biotechnology Application Programmes for Rural Empowerment

Promotion of Cultivation & Value Addition through Post Harvest Processing of Bioresources  in Shivalik belt

This pioneering project for promoting cultivation & value addition of medicinal & aromatic plants was taken up by the Council with the support of Deptt. of Biotechnology, Govt. of India.  The project has been completed in the financial year 2006-07.   The major achievements under the project are as under:-                

• The women and farmer groups were mobilized through 38 training programmes on cultivation of medicinal & aromatic plants, harvesting of existing bio-resources and their processing.

• The mother stock for medicinal and aromatic crops was procured and propagated under the project through farmers.  The demonstrations on cultivation and processing aspects of MAPs including Amla, Lemon Grass, Vetiver, Tulsi, Kaunch, and Ashwagandha were arranged at farmers’ fields.  A total of about 100 ha area was brought under cultivation of MAPs mainly amla and lemon grass involving 175 farmers. The farmers were also demonstrated intercropping of lemongrass with amla.

• A  group of enthusiastic farmers from Shivalik Belt were selected and taken to Central Institute of Medicinal & Aromatic Plant (CIMAP), Lucknow, for their exposure to the MAPs cultivation programme as well as their first hand interaction with farmers already into cultivation of these crops in and around Lucknow.  The farmers also got an opportunity to have one to one interaction with local progressive farmers engaged in cultivation of MAPs.

• The post harvest processing facility for value addition of locally available/cultivated bioresources including medicinal, aromatic and horticultural crops has been developed at Talwara as per FPO guidelines.   A total of about 120 MT amla was processed to various finished amla based food products viz. amla preserve, amla ladoo, amla burfi, amla juice, amla chutney, squash, pickle, ready-to-serve beverage and jam.   The marketing tie ups for these amla products were arranged by PSCST through Unnati Cooperative Marketing-cum-processing Society Ltd.

Further, an aromatic oil extraction unit was set up at farmers’ land (leased out to the Council) under the project which is being operated & managed by a Self Help Group in village Dhadian Katwal, Talwara Block.  These activities had a replicative effect and other farmers are coming forward to set up their extraction units.  One such unit has already been set up by the farmers at village Seprian, Block Hajipur, Tehsil Mukerian.  The aromatic oil extracted by the farmers is being marketed by Unnati Cooperative Marketing-cum-processing Society Ltd.

• As amla is one of the major natural bioresource of the region selected under the project (lower Shivaliks), 62.7 MT of wild amla and 55.4 MT of varietal amla was got harvested and sorted by mobilizing the local farmers.  (through direct involvement of 43 farmer representatives who brought the collective produce to project site. Some of these further involved additional workforce i.e. unemployed youth/rural women for harvesting and sorting of wild amla).  About, 37 women and 18 men were directly involved in processing of amla for production of various amla based food products. These activities generated a total cash outflow of Rs. 8.66 lacs to the rural unemployed youth and women involved  in  harvesting, sorting,  pricking and processing works and generated job opportunity of about 8660 man days @ Rs. 100 per man day.

• In order to ensure self-sustainance of the project after completion of project tenure, as per approval of Executive Committee, an agreement has been signed with Unnati Cooperative Marketing-cum-Processing Society Limited for operationalization of the processing unit. 

Production and Promotion of Neem based biopesticide as environment friendly biodegradable alternative to chemical pesticides.

                   Neem (Azadirachta indica) is an evergreen tree native to the Indian sub-continent and can grow in almost all types of soil and agro-climatic conditions.  The neem tree contains a chemical called azadirachtin which is proven antiseptic, antiviral, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer and anti-fugal  whose  potential can be exploited  in medicines, cosmetics and agriculture.  Most importantly, neem is a potent insecticide effective against more than 400 species of insects including all key insect pests of agriculture and is known to protect wide range of crops including paddy, cotton, maize, vegetables etc against pests by reducing their feeding tendency and reproductive capacity. 

To harness this potential of neem, the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Govt. of India has initiated a national programme titled “Production and Promotion of Neem based biopesticide as environment friendly biodegradable alternative to chemical pesticides” with the financial assistance of United nations Development (UNDP) / United Nations Industrial development Organization (UNIDO).  The objective of this programme is to promote production, processing and use of neem biopesticide, thereby aiding waste land development, generating rural employment especially for women and providing farmers with eco-friendly / biodegradable pesticides.

This project was initially implemented at two locations viz. Nimpith, West Bengal through Vivekanand Institute of Biotechnology and Nagpur, Maharashtra through Neem Foundation which yielded encouraging results.  Based on this, Phase II of the project  was initiated by the Ministry in October 2006 with the involvement of 10 institutions/organizations including PSCST though it was formally launched by Union Minister of Chemical & Fertilizers on 21.2.2007.  The objective of the project is promotion of simple technology for neem biopesticide production standardized under Phase – I of the project, establishment of neem seed processing units at different locations, field trials as well as generation of toxicology and shelf life stability data of the Neem biopesticide formulation for commercialization, through involvement of Indian Toxicology Research Institute and Institute of Pesticide Formulation Technology.  The preliminary data provided by State Department of Forests indicates that about 12  lakh neem trees exist in the state.  The Council in collaboration with District Forest Agency has organized capacity building programmes for farmers in district Bathinda which has more than 4 lakh neem trees outside forest area.

Contact Persons:
Dr. J.K. Arora, jkarora@pscst.com

Dr. Dapinder K. Bakshi, dkbakshi@pscst.com

Solid Waste Management through Vermiculture Biotechnology

            The Council has made pioneering efforts for promotion of solid waste management through vermiculture biotechnology in the state of Punjab.  The Council started technology dissemination work in 1994.  Since then, hundreds of training programmes have been organized by the Council.  As a result, the technology has gained momentum. Recently, a database on the existing units in Punjab has been compiled by the Council with the help of State Department of Agriculture, district administrations, NGOs and educational institutions.  A number of large scale units are also operative in the state that are marketing vermicompost not only within Punjab but in the neighbouring states also.

            The Council continues to provide technical guidance on the technology to various organizations.  This year, besides conducting a district level workshop in collaboration with District Administration, Sangrur, about 500 Secretaries & Inspectors of Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies operative at village level in various districts of the state were trained through interactive sessions in 10 programmes organized by Punjab Institute of Cooperative Training.

Contact Persons:
Dr. J.K. Arora, jkarora@pscst.com
 

Genetic Literacy Programme

            The findings of a project implemented by the Council with the support of Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India had revealed some hard hitting facts pertaining to existing level of genetic literacy in rural areas.  To mention a few, only 17% population covered under the survey was aware that the father (Y chromosome) is responsible for determining sex of the child; only 11% were aware that consanguinity (marriages among blood relatives) contribute to genetic problems.  Further, the impact assessment study revealed that as a result of the awareness campaigns launched by the Council, there was a significant positive shift in the understanding of these aspects and the above percentages rose to 90% & 95% respectively.  Therefore, the Council continues to impart information on fundamentals of genetic literacy with special emphasis on genetic disorders.  In the year 2006-07, this information was disseminated through 20 interactive sessions for varied target groups in the training courses / seminars on Biotechnology, Technology & Skill Development etc. organized by MGSIPA; National Institute of Technical Teachers Training Institute; PICT; DAV College, Chandigarh and GGDSD College, Chandigarh.

Contact Persons:
Dr. J.K. Arora, jkarora@pscst.com