Ludhiana, 19 November 2025
The National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM) formally launched its Village Adoption Program (VAP) at Malakpur Bet in Ludhiana on Wednesday, marking a significant step toward rural development and farmer-centric innovation. The initiative aims to assess the village’s core needs and lay the groundwork for a long-term development strategy.
Led by Dr. Vikas Kumar and Dr. Rachna Soni, a team of NIFTEM students and mentors began the day with an interactive meeting at ICAR–CIPHET. Director Dr. Nachiket Kotwaliwal outlined the institute’s mission of reducing post-harvest losses from 15% to 5% and increasing value addition in agricultural produce from 10% to 30%.
Following the session, the team visited Malakpur Bet and held discussions with village Sarpanch Shri Gurvinder Singh Grewal. Key issues highlighted during the interaction included:
- Limited awareness among farmers regarding government subsidies
- Challenges related to waste management and sanitation
- Increasing concerns over substance abuse
- Insufficient healthcare facilities
As part of the first-day agenda, the NIFTEM team successfully undertook a baseline survey, socio-economic assessment, resource mapping, and preliminary drafting of a village development framework. These activities will serve as the foundation for targeted interventions in the coming weeks.
NIFTEM’s Village Adoption Program is designed to promote rural upliftment, strengthen farmer welfare, and foster sustainable growth through knowledge transfer, technological innovation, and active community participation.
