Farmers from Australia visited PAU

Friday: 6th Dec 2019, 4:36 PM

They also visited research farms of PAU

Ludhiana: 6th December 2019: (Punjab Screen Bureau)::

A delegation of nine farmers from Australia visited Punjab Agricultural University to learn about latest agricultural technologies. They visited Skill Development Centre (SDC), research farms and various departments of PAU.

Dr Kiran Grover, senior extension specialist, highlighted the activities and training, conducted by the SDC for the farmers, farm women and the rural youth.

Dr Lavleesh Garg, extension specialist, informed about Punjab Agri-Business Incubators (PABI) project.

Earlier, Dr TS Riar, Associate Director (Skill Development), PAU, welcomed the visiting farmers and presented them a set of PAU publications.  

Meanwhile, the monthly training camp of PAU Flower Growers Club was held at PAU today in which 50 farmers participated. Dr Ranjit Singh and Dr Pankaj Kumar, floriculture experts, educated the farmers about the disease management in gladiolus.

Sardar Gurvinder Singh Sohi, President of the Club, proposed the vote of thanks.

Do not burn wheat stubble: PAU VC Appeals to farmers

Sat, May 6, 2017 at 5:16 PM

It spoils the carbon cycle of nature

Ludhiana: 6th May 2017: (Punjab Screen Team):
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After wheat harvesting, a serious note of stubble burning is being taken by the Higher Courts and the environmental organizations.  While interacting with the media today, the Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon appealed to the farmers of Punjab to avoid burning wheat stubble as it spoils the carbon cycle of nature, pollutes the environment and deteriorates the soil health. In addition, it destroys the nutritional traits and the friendly insects, resulting in attack of more insect pests on crops and increasing the farm expenses for their management. Hailing from an agricultural family, Dr Dhillon said he was well aware of the hard work and expenditure required for straw management. A few decades back, wheat was harvested in the sunshine and its grains were extracted after drying for several days. Dr. Dhillon said the industrious farmers of Punjab can plough the wheat residue in the soil instead of burning it. By irrigating it, it will be beneficial for the next crop, he added. Regarding expenses, he said the yields of paddy and wheat have been better this year and also paved way for financial benefits. The farmers could spend some amount out of it for managing the wheat stubble, he suggested.
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           Dr. Dhillon expressed his confidence that the farmers of Punjab have always adopted the recommendations of Punjab Agricultural University and would further listen to his advice of not indulging in stubble burning.  He stressed that conserving natural resources was the prime need for the benefit of health, environment, and future generations.
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           Present on the occasion were Dr. R.S. Sidhu, Director of Extension Education; Dr. J.S. Mahal, Dean, College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology;  and Dr. Jagdish Kaur, Additional Director Communication, PAU.

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PAU’S KVK (Samrala) holds a special Kisan mela

Mon, Sep 26, 2016 at 4:37 PM

Birth centenary celebrations of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay

Ludhiana: 26 September 2016:(Punjab Screen Bureau):

To mark the birth centenary celebrations of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay, a Kisan Mela was organized at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (Samrala) of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) under the aegis of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)- Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute (ATARI), Zone-I. Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor, PAU was the chief guest on the occasion. Farmers and farm women from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir participated in the mela in big number.

           Addressing the massive gathering of farmers, Dr Dhillon urged them to sow PAU recommended crop varieties during rabi 2016-17, adopt auxiliary occupations, go for soil and water testing, do not burn paddy straw and instead bury it in the soil for better soil health.

           Dr Randhir Singh, Additional Director General (Extension Education), ICAR apprised the farmers of various schemes, being offered by the Central Government. He also advised them to get Soil Health Cards issued after getting their soil tested. He urged them to go in for joint as well as online marketing.

Dr Rajbir Singh, Director, ATARI, urged the farmers, farm women and rural youths to obtain technical guidance from KVK scientists before cultivating crops. He also asked them to use PAU Happy Seeder for straw management in addition to using straw for compost making, mushroom cultivation and setting-up biogas plant.  

           Dr R.K. Gupta, Director, Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology (CIPHET), called upon the farmers to participate in processing trainings and set-up agro-processing units for better economic returns.

           Dr R.S. Sidhu, Director of Extension Education, PAU advised the farmers to use PAU Happy Seeder for the management of paddy straw. He also called upon the KVK experts to conduct field demonstrations on the use of Happy Seeder at farmers’ fields.

Dr S.C. Sharma, Associate Director (Training), KVK, Samrala shed light on the life and achievements of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay. “He was born on September 25, 1916 in Uttar Pradesh and was a great economist, sociologist, historian, philosopher and politician. He played a significant role in economic upliftment of rural masses,” said Dr Sharma.

A farm expert, Dr Arvind proposed the vote of thanks. Dr G.S. Buttar, Additional Director of Extension Education, PAU also graced the occasion.

On the occasion, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Krishi Puruskar 2016 was bestowed upon Smt. Pooja Sharma, Gurugram (Haryana) and S. Jinder Singh, Rupnagar (Punjab). Farmers and farm women from adjoining states shared their experiences and were advised to remain in touch with KVK experts. The mela also witnessed a heavy rush for the purchase of quality seeds. During the question-answer session, farmers’ queries were addressed by the experts, Besides, various self-help groups had put up their stalls.

Kisan Mela at Faridkot attracted more younger generation

Wed, Sep 14, 2016 at 3:43 PM

Scientists and Doctors Committed to Improve Health:Dr Raj

Ludhiana-14 Septmeber 2016: (Punjab Screen Bureau):

The Kisan Mela at Regional Research Station, Faridkot, witnessed a humongous crowd of farmers, reasserting the validity of such melas, which are an ideal platform to reach out to the farming community at large. A colourful mêlée of more than a hundred inviting stalls, decorated with buntings, beckoned the teeming visitors. 

This Kisan mela at Faridkot attracted more younger generation. young boys and girls were watching each and every stall to gain more education of agriculture and horticulture. They said Agriculture is still super job for us. We will improve the weak economic situation of our farmers and country. These boys and girls have accepted the challenge arise after suicides by farmers. leaving behind the all differences these children explained that land is our mother and agriculture is our religion. They said,'we will not allow anyone to pollute our soil, water, air and harmony".

The theme of the Kisan Mela was “PAU kheti sifarshan, faslan layi vardaan; vigyani kheti naal hi safal hon kirsan.” The theme conveys a strong message that the ‘PAU Package of Practices’ is a boon for healthy crop production. The incorporation of scientific and technological innovations is vital to achieve success in agriculture.

The Kisan Mela was inaugurated by Punjab State Awardee, Dr Raj Bahadur, a renowned orthopedician and the Vice Chancellor of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot. Dr B. S. Dhillon, Vice Chancellor, PAU, presided over the function. Dignitaries from PAU- Dr R. K. Ghumber, Director of Research; Dr R. S. Sidhu, Director of Extension Education; Dr Jagdish Kaur, Additional Director of Communication; as well as Dr H. S. Kalsi, Chief Agricultural Officer and the first Director of Regional Research Station, Faridkot; and Dr Pankaj Rathore, Director, Regional Research Station, Faridkot lent their presence to the occasion. 

In his welcome address, Dr R. S. Sidhu expressed his gratitude towards the farmer visitors who had turned up in huge numbers, which in itself symbolized the huge success of the pastoral fair. He exhorted them to attend trainings imparted at the seventeen KVKs of the university. Such trainings would arm them with the latest knowledge to tackle the challenges which came in the form of weather, weeds, pests etc.

The Chief Guest, Dr Raj Bahadur, in his inaugural address congratulated the PAU scientists who identified crop maladies and worked relentlessly to eradicate them as well as to bring such information to the doorstep of the farmer; thus establishing a likability between scientists and doctors who are committed to improved health, albeit in their respective fields. He also raised his concerns about the rising cases of farmers’ suicides, the depletion of the water table; thereby stressing the need to go in for crop diversification and mechanized community farming. He lauded the efforts of the university for conducting such educative fairs which aided the transfer of knowledge to the farmers who are the true beneficiaries. "We accept the challenge"

In his warm and sagacious address, Dr B. S. Dhillon, Vice Chancellor, PAU, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the farmers for adopting the recommendations of the PAU experts from time to time. He encouraged them to keep up with this practice and as a word of caution, also suggested that experimenting new varieties must be limited initially; and that the results and their experiences be shared with scientists which would positively impact future research tremendously. He congratulated his farming brethren who had cooperated immensely in checking the depleting water table; leading to a positive increase of 45% in the state. He expressed his joy in sharing that an overall decrease of Rs 600 crores was witnessed in the consumption of urea, but at the same time he suggested the controlled use of phosphorous rich urea to sustain the biological health of the soil. He also advised the farming community not to resort blindly to the use of pesticides; rather use them sparingly, with discretion. Here he suggested them to resort to manual weeding in case the problem wasn’t severe. Dr Dhillon expressed satisfaction that the white fly menace had been curbed to a large extent by the collective efforts of the state government, the university and the farmers. Further, he also suggested that stubble burning be avoided and to use the same as compost. He stressed the benefits of collective mechanized farming and marketing, which have already yielded a 35% national gain as per the recent data available.

Dr Gumber, who has rendered 15 years of service at KVK, Faridkot, before joining as Director of Research, PAU, announced several new varieties of seeds released by the university. He recommended Wheat 677 and 725, which were immune to yellow and brown rust; African Sarson, which could be threshed and harvested by combines and also yielded more oil; Tomato varieties- Punjab Gaurav, Punjab Sartaj and Punjab Red Cherry; Brinjal- PB HR 42 & 43; Pea- Punjab 89, 83 & 87; Pumpkin- PBH 1 & 2, to name a few. He also recommended varieties of flowering crops such as the Gladiolas- PB 25 and Sweet Peas- PSP 43, 31, 57, 62 & 82. He further informed the audience about the improved packing technology which included the cling film/sheet for increasing the shelf life of vegetables. Dr Gumber suggested the use of the improvised Lucky Seed Drill instead of the traditional suhaga. Further, he insisted on reduced stubble burning of rice straw, which could be achieved by using PAU Happy Seeder which helps to reduce rice straw into mulch as well as helps in retaining moisture. He recommended the use of Canola oil extracted from gobhi sarson and rye. Encouraging the farmers to adopt more scientific manners in farming, he also suggested the use of Biofertilizer Consortium to improve the seed variety and also the adoption of Leaf Colour Chart which would indicate the exact amount of urea to be used. His educative remarks were much appreciated by the farmers present in the audience.

The interactive session among the PAU scientists and the farmers was quite eventful. The experts eagerly answered their queries. Their opinions on various issues were well sought after.

A cultural bonanza was offered to regale the audience. Traditional folk singers and the engaging witty repertoire of Dr. Jaswinder Bhalla, Head, Extension Education, PAU added colour to the atmosphere.

PAU Regional Kisan Melas Kick Start with Ballowal Saunkhri

Kisan Melas Best way to reachout to farmers-Dr. Dhillon

Ludhiana: 9th September 2016: (Punjab Screen Bureau):

The first Kisan Mela of the Rabi season kick start with at Regional Research Station, Ballowal Saunkhri, District Shahid Bhagat Singh Nagar. The Mela was inaugurated by Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal, Member Board of Management while Dr. Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana presided over the function. S. Parmajit Singh, Addiional Deputy Commissioner, Shahid Bhagat Singh Nagar and Dr. Jaswant Singh, Chief Agril. Officer were also present on the occasion.

While addressing a huge gathering of farmers and farm women,  the Vice-Chancellor Dr. Baldev Singh Dhillon, Punjab Agricultural University advised them to minimize the use of pesticides while going in for the ones recommended by the University. He also said that use of fertilizers should be done only after getting the soil tested.  Dr Dhillon also motivated the farmers to use the laser land leveler and drip irrigation technique to save water. He also recommended the use of the happy seeder, while cautioning the farmers against burning of the paddy straw.  While highlighting the achievements of PAU, Dr Dhillon thanked the farmers for their support and cooperation in controlling the further depletion of the water table as well as going in for judicious use of pesticides. He urged them to adopt bio fertilizers that help increase micronutrients in the soil. While motivating the farm women to help in subsidiary agricultural practices like mushroom cultivation, bee keeping etc, Dr Dhillon also suggested the need for popularizing lemon grass cultivation and setting up of agro processing units in the Kandi region.

In his address to the audience, Chief Guest, Dr SS Gosal, encouraged the farmers to adopt vegetable cultivation, considering the clean and pollution free environment of the region. While making a point towards maximizing profits by building strong farmer trader linkages, Dr Gosal asked the farmers to go in for organic farming. He also motivated the farmers to curb unnecessary expenditure by adopting the practice of custom hiring of agricultural equipment rather than purchasing the same. “The need of the hour is to inspire the youth to take up agriculture as a profession”, said Dr Gosal.

Dr R.K. Gumber, Director Research , in his address to the farmers recommended the cultivation of oilseeds and pulses for maximum profits. He highlighted various research activities of the university and informed that the new varieties were being developed keeping the environment and the depleting water table in mind.

Earlier, Dr R.S. Sidhu, Director Extension, welcomed the Chief Guest and other important dignitaries. He advised the farmers to strictly follow PAU recommendations and  counseled them to consult the scientists and researchers in case of problems. Also present on the occasion were special Guest of the day, S. Paramjit Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner,Hoshiarpur, officers, scientists and faculty from Punjab Agricultural University and the department of agriculture.

The technical session was coordinated by Dr T.S. Riar, Professor, Department of Extension Education, and experts from the departments of farm power machinery, plant breeding, soil science, vegetable science, entomology, forestry and plant pathology dwelled on various farmer related topics.

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.

Two Days Rabi Workshop Inaugurated at PAU

Tue, Aug 16, 2016 at 5:31 PM

Vice Chancellor Dr. B.S. Dhillon was the Chief Guest

Ludhiana: 16 August 2016: 

(Rector Kathuria//Pardeep Sharma//Punjab Screen):

Two-days Rabi workshop has been organized by Directorate of Extension Education in Pal Auditorium at PAU, Ludhiana.  On this occasion, PAU Vice Chancellor, Dr. B. S. Dhillon was the Chief Guest and Dr. J. S. Bains, Director of Agriculture, Punjab was the Guest of Honour. The Agricultural Development Officers, Agriculture Officers, Chief Agriculture Officers from all over the state, scientists from different KVKs, University scientists from different disciplines and extension specialists have participated in the workshop. 

Dr. Dhillon emphasized on judicial use of chemicals in agriculture and we have to step towards the less use of insecticides.  While discussing about the bio-fertilizers, he urged upon the conservation of nitrogen and phosphorous nutrient in the soil.  He appreciated the joint efforts of extension specialists and University scientists to control the incidence of white fly.  Similarly, he emphasized on joint efforts to control yellow rust in wheat.   While talking about cooperative farming, Dr. Dhillon said that we should adopt agricultural machinery through cooperative societies by which we can reduce the initial cost on agriculture.  On this occasion, Dr. Dhillon also appreciated the cooperation rendered from Punjab Govt. and agriculture department and gave assurance from University for any agricultural crisis in future.  Dr. Dhillon, further stated that agricultural accounting is must.  So, there is dire need to aware the farmers regarding this.  In view of increasing temperature, there is need to re-schedule the sowing time of crops.    

           Speaking on this occasion, Dr. Bains focused on the future targets of different crops.  He stated that Punjab occupies 1.5 percent area of the country and contributing a lot in central pool.  He stated that in collaboration with PAU we have achieved the new heights in agriculture which are appreciable.  He encouraged the officers, scientists and extension specialists to participate in open discussion so that the right direction can be given to agricultural research.  He said that new research experiments should be planned in view of climate change and farm operations should be planned according to weather forecast.  He emphasized on great contribution of bio-technology and nano-technology practices in future. 

           Dr. R. K. Gumber, Director of Research, PAU highlighted the new recommendations of the University.  He also informed about the research works going on in the University. 

           Dr. H. S. Dhaliwal, Dean, College of Agriculture welcomed the delegates.  On this occasion, the exhibition was displayed by different departments of the University to show the new technologies and techniques. 

           The organizer of this workshop, Dr. R. S. Sidhu, Director of Extension Education while giving thanks to the participants, he discussed about the challenges in extension works in Punjab agriculture.  He stated that while controlling the incidence of white fly, yellow rust and mealy bug we have earned the faith of Punjab farmers and we have to work hard to maintain this faith.  We have to reach the door of every small farmer to guide them

PAU VC Addresses media on whitefly incidence

We can manage whitefly incidence-Dr. Dhillon

Ludhiana:5th August 2016:

(Rector Kathuria//Pardeep Sharma//Punjab Screen):

Addressing the press conference on ‘whitefly incidence’ today, Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and Head, Inter-state Monitoring Committee on White fly, said that the University scientists and the State Department of Agriculture were making all out efforts to control whitefly. He stated, “We expect we can manage whitefly incidence.” In Khuian Sarwar village of Fazilka district, whitefly attack on cotton is a matter of concern, he told. But according to the comparative study of white fly incidence during 2015 and 2016, the incidence is less this year, he said. 

Dr Dhillon disclosed that Punjab Government has provided Rs 70 lakh for research in this direction and has recruited 500 scouts and 50 field supervisors to check infested cotton fields and prevent damage to the cotton crop. “PAU has been focusing on clean cultivation, good quality seed, timely sowing, proper monitoring and timely remedial action, quality control of pesticides, and creating awareness about identification of severity of incidence and management methods,” he informed. Further, Dr Dhillon said that PAU has also deployed faculty and students for monitoring and management of the menace. Besides, farmers’ training camps were organized by the University in addition to bringing out a crop calendar and a literature on cotton, he told. Not only this, the University has imparted trainings to pesticide dealers, and organized several radio/TV talks on management of insect-pests of cotton, he added.

Referring to ploughing up of cotton fields, Dr Dhillon said that there were many factors responsible for the same like fear among farmers due to last year’s attack, early appearance of whitefly, new tubewell connections, poor crop stand due to hailstorm, etc.

           Talking about the status of insecticides, he said that the recommendations (insecticides) made by PAU killed 70-90 per cent of whitefly whereas other recommendations killed only 25-30 per cent of whitefly. “PAU has recommended six insecticides for whitefly control,” he revealed. As told by the senior official of PAU that the area under cotton in the state has slipped from 4.00 lakh hectares to 2.57 lakh hectares, Dr Dhillon said, “Seeing the present growth of the crop, we expect normal yield.”

           Dr Dhillon also said that cotton cultivation in Punjab differed from that in Haryana. Long term strategy has been planned among PAU, Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar (Haryana); Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner (Rajasthan); RS- Central Institute for Cotton Research, he added.

Present on the occasion were Dr P.K. Khanna, Registrar; Dr R.S. Sidhu, Director of Extension Education; Dr R.K. Gumber, Director of Research and Dr Balwinder Singh, former Director of Research, PAU.