PAU Conducts Farmers Awareness Programme On Weather Services

Ludhiana, March 17, 2016: More than 200 farmers participated in the farmers Awareness Programme organized by the School of Climate Change and Agricultural Meteorology at village Talwandi Khurd (Ludhiana). This village is adopted by the School of Climate Change & Agricultural Meteorology. During the programme sponsored by the Ministry of Earth Sciences/India Meteorological Department under Gramin Krishi Mausam Seva project, water testing kits developed by the Department of Microbiology and Package of Practices for kharif crops were distributed free to the farmers. Dr.P.S. Aulakh, Additional Director, Extension, was the chief guest on this occasion. Dr.L.K. Dhaliwal, Director, School of Climate Change & Agricultural Meteorology enlightened the farmers about the weather advisory services provided by PAU and urged them to register for free SMS weather services to plan their day to day agriculture operations so that losses due to extreme weather events could be reduced. She also motivated them to adopt water saving techniques in view of the decreasing amount of rainfall in the state.

Dr. Parampal Sahota, Head, Department of Microbiology shed light on the use of water kits, cleanliness of pits and use of different biofertilizers in crops.

Dr. Mandeep Singh Hunjan, Department of Plant Pathology, highlighted the effect of climate change on diseases of wheat and rice crops. He also advised the farmers regarding judicious use of pesticides.

Dr. Ravinder Singh Chandi, Department of Entomology, briefly explained the safe use of insecticides and the status of different damage causing insects under the changing climate scenario.