FASS-KVK, SANGRUR ORGANIZED FARMER-SCIENTIST INTERFACE ON VEGETABLE PRODUCTION AND MARKETING IN NICHE AREA OF VEGETABLES AT MALERKOTLA

Ludhiana, February 21, 2017: The Farm Advisory Service Centre, Sangrur and Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kheri in collaboration with Department of Vegetable Science, PAU, Ludhiana organized a Farmer-Scientist Interface at the farm of S. Satwinder Singh Gogi of village Sherwani Kot, near Malerkotla in which 150 farmers participated. Speaking on the occasion the Chief Guest Dr. Rajinder Singh Sidhu, the Director of Extension Education, Punjab Agricultural University, PAU, Ludhiana encouraged the farmers to grow PAU recommended vegetable varieties, adopt drip irrigation and to switch over some of the area under vegetable seed production to earn more profit. He further suggested the farmers not to sow all the area under a particular vegetable at the same time rather to prefer staggered sowing viz. early, mid and late to harness higher market price. He emphasized on cultivation of different varieties of different vegetables and to go for grading of the produce before taking it to market. He concluded his remarks by advising the farmers to read PAU monthly magazines viz. Changi Kheti and Progressive farming. The Guest of honour, Dr. Pushpinder Singh Aulakh, Additional Director of Extension of Education, PAU, Ludhiana urged the farmers to make close coordination with KVK scientists for adoption of subsidiary occupations. Dr. Ajmer Singh Dhatt, Head, Department of Vegetable Science, PAU, Ludhiana shared in detail about the hybrid seeds of brinjal, chilli, tomato and muskmelon. Dr. Buta Singh Romana, Incharge, Farm Advisory Service Centre, Sangrur discussed about the techniques adopted by the progressive farmers of Malerkotla for getting higher yield of vegetable crops. He informed that more number of field demonstrations would be laid out on new high yielding varieties/hybrids in Malerkotla area. Dr. Mandeep Singh, Associate Director (Training), KVK, Kheri told that farmers should visit the KVK to get trainings on vegetable seed production, preservation of fruits and vegetables, etc. and for getting seeds of new varieties of vegetables and field crops. Dr. Kulbir Singh shed light on successful techniques for getting higher productivity of vegetables, Dr. Sandeep Kaur Sidhu explained about integrated pest management in vegetables, Dr. B.V.S. Mahajan talked about post harvest handling and processing of vegetables and Dr. Parminder Singh shared his views on healthy nursery raising. Dr. Ravinder Kaur, Assistant Prof. (Horticulture), KVK, Sangrur and Dr. Ashok Kumar, Assistant Prof. (Soil Science), KVK, Sangrur talked about nutrition garden and soil and water testing respectively. Dr. Hardeep Singh, HDO, Sangrur shared information on various subsidy schemes run by Punjab Govt. on mushroom cultivation, orchard plantation, green/polynet house construction, vermi- compost unit, bee-keeping, horticultural machinery etc.

At the end Dr. Sidhu and the team of experts visited the fields of Mohd. Suleman and Satwinder Singh Gogi.

The Department of Vegetable Science, KVK & FASC, Sangrur and progressive farmers put up an impressive exhibition of vegetable seeds & nursery and other farm products.