PAU HOLDS KISAN MELA AT KVK, AMRITSAR

Ludhiana/Amritsar, September 12, 2016: A heavy inflow of farmers was witnessed at the Kisan Mela of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) held at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Amritsar today. The theme of the Kisan Mela was “PAU Kheti shifarshan faslan layi vardan, vigyanic kheti naal hi safal hon kirsan”. Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor, PAU was the chief guest of the occasion. Dr R.K Ghumber, Director of Research; Dr R.S Sidhu, Director of Extension Education; Dr. Jagdish Kaur, Additional Director Communication; Dr. G.S Buttar, Additional Director of Extension Education and Dr Harwant Singh Aulakh. Deputy Director, Department of Agriculture were also present on the occasion.

With more than 10 stalls hosted by Punjab Agricultural University, the Kisan Mela served as a befitting platform for the quick redressal of agro-problems of farmers. A question-answer session, an interactive rendezvous, was also held between the farmers and experts from Punjab Agricultural University. Dr Amarjit and Dr Narinder Singh, Senior Extension Scientists were seen enthusiastically catering to the queries of the farmers. PAU varieties of vegetables, fruits and flowers were also discussed and emphasized on by the scientists.

Dr Sidhu, while welcoming the dignitaries and the farmers, called upon the farmers to follow PAU recommendations. “To make good progress in agriculture, farmers can attend various trainings, organized at 17 KVKs across Punjab from time to time,” he advised. The theme of the mela “PAU Kheti shifarshan faslan layi vardan, vigyanic kheti naal hi safal hon kirsan”, aims at guiding the farmers to adopt new production technologies of PAU, so that farmers can achieve success in farming, he added.

Addressing the farmers, Dr Dhillon said, “Farmers are more experienced when it comes to testing of crop varieties and agriculture technologies, recommended by PAU.” Though these experiences pave way for the path of success, yet initially, the trials should be done only at a small scale level, he suggested. Referring to crop diversification, Dr Dhillon highlighted that Punjab produces 37 per cent of honey and 40 per cent of mushrooms of the country. He exhorted the farmers to adopt beekeeping and mushroom cultivation as subsidiary occupations, in which rural women can also contribute significantly and help in raising substantial income. He observed that the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, turmeric and sugarcane offers a good alternative and can reap benefits to the farmers of this area. Encouraging the farmers to go for cooperative marketing and use of farm machinery, he said that this could result in a 35 per cent cut in the input and labour costs. Dr Dhillon also urged the gathering to maintain their proper farm records in order to earn profits and to reduce expenses. He called upon the farmers to conserve water and adopt resource conservation technologies, like laser land leveler, tensiometer, etc., developed by PAU. Reposing full faith in the farmers of Punjab, he motivated them to share their farm issues with the PAU experts, without any hesitation, at various KVKs. “Your feedback helps in devising the research programmes of PAU,” he added. Dr Dhillon lauded the efforts of KVK Amritsar in the organization of the mela.

Dr R.K Ghumber highlighted the research priorities of PAU and told the farmers about recently recommended varieties of Wheat, Napier Bajra, Mungbean, African Mustard Sarson etc. He observed, “With the change in agriculture scenario, environment and dietary habits, new challenges are cropping up”. Dr Ghumber said that PAU’s research was focusing on judicious use of water and on developing heat tolerant varieties. He also advocated the use of biofertilisers and integrated pet management technologies.

Dr Harwant Singh Aulakh. Deputy Director, Department of Agriculture, Amritsar also spoke on the occasion. He highlighted the farmer-friendly services provided by the Government of Punjab. Winners of the Sewian making competition were also awarded. Dr Bhupinder Singh Dhillon, Associate Director, KVK Amritsar, proposed the vote of thanks. The stage was well-managed by Dr Jaswinder Bhalla, Head, Department of Extension Education, PAU.