Foundation for Farmers' Training Centre laid

Chennai, Jun 25 (UNI) Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram today laid the foundation stone of Punjab National Bank (PNB) Farmers' Training Centre (FTC) at Pillaiyarpatti village in Sivaganga District of Tamil Nadu.

The function was presided over by Mr S C Gupta, Chairman and Managing Director of PNB, the second largest public sector bank in the country with a national network of 4510 offices including 444 Extension Counters.

PNB set up the PNB Farmers' Welfare Trust in the year 2000, which functioned with "No Profit" motive, totally committed to the development and progress of the farming sector and the rural population.

The trust had established seven FTCs in the states of Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Chhattisgarh.

The 8th FTC was established at village Pillaiyarpatti today, a bank's release here said.

The Centre would benefit the farmers of Pillaiyarpatti, nearby villages and adjoining districts.

The FTCs strive for the development and progress of the farming sector and the rural population by educating the farmers on various technological developments in agriculture and agro-processing. The centres assist the farmers in switching over to cash crops and to undertake income and employment generating activities in rural areas.

FTCs also organise field workshops and seminars on tractor maintenance. They impart training to farmers on driving and other aspects of agriculture and rural development. Besides, FTCs regularly conduct Entrepreneurship Development Programmes, special programmes for Self Help Group members, animal health checkup camps and human health checkup camps.

The FTCs have conducted 1916 training programmes on various agricultural and rural development areas upto May, 2006. Apart from that, the FTCs have organised over 500 on-location training programmes, 100 animal health checkup camps and about 25 human health checkup camps across the country.

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