Fri, Sep 8, 2017 at 6:00 PM
Drip irrigation technique can be benefit farmers of Kandi area: Dr. Gosal
Ballowal Saunkhri: 8th September 2017: (Punjab Screen Bureau)::
The series of PAU Kisan Melas kick started with the first mela at Regional Research
Station, Ballowal Saunkhri (Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar) today. Farmers and farm
women in big number thronged the mela to see the live demonstrations, purchase
planting material and farm literature, and discuss their farm related issues with the PAU
scientists. The mela aimed at urging the farmers to not burn paddy straw, save
environment and cut expenses on social functions. Dr S.S. Gosal, Member, Board of
Management, PAU, was the chief guest while Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor,
PAU, presided over the inaugural session. Sh Chaudhary Darshan Lal Mangupur, MLA,
Balachaur, was the special guest on the occasion.
In his inaugural address, Dr Gosal said, “Farmers repose full faith in the Regional
Research Station, Ballowal Saunkhri. This station was established in 1982 and has
served the farming community tremendously.” Expressing concern over water shortage
in the Kandi region, Dr Gosal said the use of drip irrigation technique can benefit the
farmers of this area. He also called for judicious use of fertilizers, saying no to paddy
straw burning, saving environment and regularizing agricultural income. Dr Gosal urged
the farmers to avail the subsidy on tractors, being provided by the Department of
Horticulture, Punjab.
In his presidential remarks, Dr Dhillon said, “With 206 per cent cropping intensity,
the yield of various crops in Punjab has seen a rise.” He called upon the farmers to use
good quality seed, make fertilizers’ use as per requirement, use biofertilizers for good
soil health and maintain farm records for economic sustainability. He stressed on the
farmers to not indulge in paddy straw burning and instead adopt its management
technologies. Dr Dhillon further said the PAU scientists are making all-out efforts to
address the issues of the farmers of Kandi region. Voicing concern over farmers’
suicides, he highly praised the students of Gursewa College of Nursing, Garshankar, for
their theatrical skills while enacting a play, which aimed at spreading the message
“Suicide is not the solution, rather fight against all odds of life.”
The special guest, Sh Mangupur expressed his sincere gratitude to the
agricultural experts for focusing on the Kandi region. He advised the farmers to seek
University’s technical expertise regarding agriculture and its allied occupations. He also
talked about the developmental activities.
On the occasion, S. Jagjit Singh, SDM, Balachaur, was also present.
Dr M.S. Dhaliwal, Additional Director of Research (Horticulture), PAU, while
highlighting research priorities, said, “The University is conducting research on nearly
100 crops. A total of 809 crop varieties and hybrids have been developed and
recommended by PAU till date, out of which, 173 are at the national level.” The focus
area of PAU’s research is on the development of crop varieties requiring less
water, fertilizers and resistant to various insect-pests and diseases, he added. Dr
Dahliwal also apprised farmers of several newly released crop varieties and their
production- protection technologies.
Earlier, Dr G.S. Buttar, Additional Director of Extension Education, PAU,
welcomed the dignitaries and the farmers, farm women and the rural youth. He said the
number of farmers participating in this mela is seeing an upward trend. The challenges
of Kandi region are different from all, he added. “About 34 per cent of population of
Punjab is having less than 5 acres of land. This Regional Research Station came up
with the special objective of serving the small farmers of the Kandi region
(Nawanshaher, Hoshiarpur and Ropar),” he added. In addition, four Krishi Vigyan
Kendras are established at Langroya, Bahowal, Ropar and Pathankot
to address the issues of the farmers, he told. Dr Buttar urged the visitng farmers to reap
benefits by receiving trainings in various aspects of agriculture from these KVKs.
Dr Manmohanjit Singh, Director, Regional Research Station, Ballowal Saunkhri,
proposed the vote of thanks. During the mela, as many as 116 stalls were put up by
various departments of PAU and other organizations. Huge rush of farmers was seen at
the seed sale centre of this station. The students of Gursewa College of Nursing also
enthralled the gathering with their giddha performance.
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