Empowering Defence Personnel through Agribusiness: Innovations and Agribusiness Management Programme Concludes at VAMNICOM & CICTAB, Pune
Empowering Defence Personnel through Agribusiness: Innovations and Agribusiness Management Programme Concludes at VAMNICOM & CICTAB, Pune
Pune : 18 July 2025
The two-month residential training programme titled “Innovations and Agribusiness Management” (Course No: 117-05-2025) was successfully conducted from 26th May to 18th July 2025 at VAMNICOM & CICTAB, Pune. The programme was exclusively designed for Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and Other Ranks (ORs) of the Indian Armed Forces, under the guidance of the Directorate General Resettlement (DGR), Ministry of Defence.
A total of 39 participants—24 from the Army, 7 from the Navy, and 8 from the Air Force—completed the programme aimed at equipping them with modern agribusiness knowledge, entrepreneurial skills, and cooperative management practices to ensure a smooth transition into post-retirement livelihood avenues.
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The comprehensive course curriculum included modules on agritech innovations, sustainable agriculture, food processing, startup incubation, digital marketing, and cooperative enterprise models. Sessions were delivered by eminent experts from ICAR, NABARD, MANAGE, FSSAI, and successful agribusiness startups. Field visits were conducted to FPOs, agri-incubation centres, and cooperative enterprises in Maharashtra.
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The Valedictory Session, held on 18th July 2025, was graced by Brigadier Ranjan Keron, ADG (South), Directorate General Resettlement, who inspired the participants to explore cooperative and allied business models to foster rural transformation.
Course Coordinator Dr. Mahesh Kadam, Subject Expert Dr. Dhananjay Gaikwad, and Prof. Shantanu Ghosh, Registrar, VAMNICOM, reiterated the commitment to continue capacity-building efforts through sector-specific programmes in dairy, poultry, fisheries, and value-added agriculture.
This successful initiative reflects VAMNICOM & CICTAB’s dedication to inclusive development, cooperative entrepreneurship, and nation-building through skilled resettlement of defense personnel.
Nikhil Deshmukh/Preeti Malandkar