PAU holds kisan mela at RRS, Ballowal Saunkhri

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.

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.