Two days Rabi Workshop Concludes at PAU

Wed, Aug 17, 2016 at 3:44 PM

We have won the faith of farmers-Dr. R S Sidhu

Ludhiana: 17 August 2016: (Punjab Screen Bureau):

Deliberations on package of practices for wheat, barley, pulses, oilseeds, maize, forage and millets were held during the two-day “Research and Extension Specialists’ Workshop for Rabi Crops,” which concluded at the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) today. The workshop was attended by Agriculture Development Officers, Agriculture Officers and Chief Agriculture Officers from the Department of Agriculture, Punjab; Deputy/Associate Directors (Training) from Krishi Vigyan Kendras; District Extension Specialists; and deans, directors and subject matter specialists of the University. The experts held also discussions on agricultural engineering, agro-forestry and economics of rabi crops.

            In his inaugural address, the Chief Guest, Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, lauded the support of Punjab Government and State Agriculture Department in checking whitefly incidence on cotton. “The joint efforts have resulted in curbing whitefly menace,” he said, while assuring PAU’s full cooperation in solving agriculture issues in future also. Dr Dhillon said collaborative efforts were also required to control yellow rust disease of wheat. He emphasized on making judicious use of agro-chemicals, adopting cooperative farming, reducing cost of production, keeping farm records, using bio-fertilizers, and re-scheduling the sowing time of various crops in view of rising temperature.

            The Guest of Honour, Dr J.S. Bains, Director of Agriculture, Punjab, said that State with 1.5 per cent of geographical area of the country is making maximum contribution to the centre’s food kitty. He exhorted the participants to keep interacting with the scientists in order to give right direction to the agricultural research. He also stressed on contributing biotechnology and nano-technology to the futuristic agriculture.

            Dr R.K. Gumber, Director of Research, PAU highlighted the characteristics of the newly developed crop varieties and shed light on production-protection technologies for various crops.

            Chairing the concluding session today, Dr R.S. Sidhu, Director of Extension Education, underlined the need for strengthening farmer-research-extension-marketing linkages. He said that this workshop would play an important role in transferring new farm innovations to the fields through extension functionaries. “We have won the faith of farmers in controlling whitefly, yellow rust and mealy bug. Similarly, we will have to continue with the collaborative efforts to sustain this faith in future as well,” he added.

            Earlier, Dr H.S. Dhaliwal, Dean, College of Agriculture, welcomed the dignitaries, officers and PAU scientists.  Dr T.S. Riar, Professor of Extension Education conducted the proceedings of the workshop. The participants also visited the experimental areas of Agronomy, Plant Breeding and Genetics, Plant Pathology, Entomology, Soil Science, Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Soil and Water Engineering, etc.