PAU VC expresses concern over contemporary agricultural challenges

Ludhiana, May 30, 2016: A two-day “Research and Extension Specialists’ Workshop for Vegetables, Floriculture and Sericulture along with Post-Harvest Management, Farm Power and Machinery, Food Technology and Agricultural Economics” began at the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) today. The Directorate of Extension Education, PAU and the National Horticulture Mission have jointly organised the workshop. The officers from the State Department of Horticulture, extension specialists from Krishi Vigyan Kendras and Farm Advisory Service Centres, and deans, directors and faculty from PAU participated in the inaugural session.

Inaugurating the workshop, the Chief Guest, Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor, PAU expressed concern over the contemporary agricultural challenges. He said, “To combat these challenges, there is a dire need to develop new technologies requiring fewer inputs and resulting into enhanced production.” He also called upon the scientists to tackle the problem of nematode and marketing in protected cultivation. About horticulture, Dr Dhillon said it is a profitable sector and leads to employment generation. Stressing the need to conserve water and stop misuse of pesticides, he urged for reducing expenses on farm inputs and augmenting the agri-income. Dr Dhillon also shed light on nutrition garden, seed production, farm mechanization, processing industry, precision farming and climate change issues.

Dr Gurkanwal Singh, Director of Horticulture, Punjab underlined the need for product development and marketing in order to increase the income of the farmers. “With shrinking land holdings, a profitable model needs to be developed for farmers having 5, 10 and 12 acres of land. Good marketing facilities and options to grow different vegetables in fields need to be given for the success of the model,” he suggested. Floriculture has bright prospects with gerbera cultivation holding an enormous scope and rose having great export potential, he said. Dr Singh also laid emphasis on nutritional value and medicinal properties of vegetables for enhancing profitability. “In hi-tech horticulture, protected cultivation has been promoted among the farmers but many of its issues need to be dealt with to save more and get good returns,” he added.

Dr Balwinder Singh, Director of Research, while presenting the research highlights, said, “Vegetable cultivation can play a vital role in crop diversification in Punjab.” The area under vegetables has jumped from 32,000 hectare in 1960-61 to 2.14 lakh hectare in 2014-15, he disclosed. Referring to the new crop varieties, he told that Punjab Gaurav, Punjab Sartaj and Punjab Red Cherry of tomato; AP3 of pea; PBHR 41 and PBHR 42 of brinjal; PPH 1 and PPH 2 of halwa kaddu; PG 25 of gladiolus; Punjab Shyamli of chrysanthemum; and PSP 43, PSP 31, PSP 57, PSP 62 and PSP 81 of sweet pea are subject to approval of the State Variety Approval Committee. He also highlighted the production and protection technologies for various crops.

Earlier, Dr H.S. Dhaliwal, Dean, College of Agriculture, PAU welcomed the dignitaries and the extension functionaries. He said farmers need to be made aware of the post-harvest management techniques. Good infrastructure, transport and storage facilities need to be created to curb post-harvest losses, he observed. Dr Dhaliwal also emphasized on developing new varieties of flowers for summer season and promoting cultivation of exotic vegetables.

Dr R.S. Sidhu, Director of Extension Education, while proposing the vote of thanks, urged the extension functionaries to play a key role in area planning as well as marketing planning. He further said that this workshop would hold discussions on challenges and achievements of vegetables, floriculture and other areas in addition to gathering feedback.

The Coordinator, Dr T.S. Riar conducted the proceedings of the workshop. On the occasion, an exhibition highlighting various crop varieties and their protection-production technologies was put by various departments of PAU. Besides, the dignitaries released a folder on “Fruit Nutrition” and a bulletin on “Nursery Production of Ornamental Plants.”