Horticulture has a great scope in Punjab agriculture as it can help diversify agriculture and generate income and employment. This was stated by the Director of Extension Education, PAU, Dr. M.S.Gill while elaborating that several new projects have been funded by the National Horticultural Mission (NHM) to promote horticulture through training and research.
Dr. Gill said that a project \"Integrated Mushroom Unit for Spawn, Compost Production and Training\" with a budget lay out of Rs.50.00 lakh has been sanctioned to lay impetus on mushrooms. The project will be handled by Dr. P.K.Khanna as Principal Investigator (PI) and Drs. S. Kapoor and Mrs. P.P. Johl as Co-PIs. The Punjab which is accredited with 48% mushroom production of the country will further boost production through implementing the project. The NHM has also funded the project \"Honey Festival-cum-Bee Keeping Experience Exchange Workshop\" which will impart the needed education on this auxiliary agricultural venture. Dr. P.K.Chhuneja will be the PI of this programme that has a budget lay out of Rs.2.00 lakh, said Dr. Gill.
Vegetable seed production requires additional focus. To promote seed production of different vegetables, a project with a budget lay out of rupees 40.00 lakh has been supported by NHM. Dr. S.S.Bal, Director Seeds will be the PI of this project to be implemented at PAU on 80 hectare of land for seed production. Dr. Gill further informed that two plant health clinics (PHC) will be established at Kapurthala and Faridkot with a budgetary provision of Rs. 20.00 lakh at each. The PHC will provide advisory and diagnostic service to the farmers and farm women on different components of horticulture. The PAU scientists generate new research based recommendations on crop improvement, crop production crop protection, and post harvest handling operations for different horticultural crops. The recommendations are discussed with officers of Department of Horticulture, Punjab and the field level functionaries of PAU in the state level \'Research-Extension workshops\' for which the NHM has funded to the tune of Rs.3.00 lakh.
To strengthen the training programmes in horticulture, the NHM has provided funds to the tune of Rs. 10.00 lakh for \"Training Course of Supervisors in Horticulture for one year at Ludhiana\". Similarly, \"Gardeners Training Class of six month duration\" has been funded with a budget provision of Rs.8.5 lakh each at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Gurdaspur and Bathinda. This will help make the programmes more effective and useful, said Dr. Gill.
Another project on \"Forecasting of Plant Diseases\" will be operated in the Department of Plant Pathology for which the funds to the tune of Rs.4.00 lakh has been provided by NHM.
Dr. Gill said the efforts will help strengthen the cause of crop diversification and the promotion of horticulture industry in the state. The projects will largely involve the technical programme in farmers participatory more, he said adding that the funds have been disbursed to the concerned PIs who will send the results to the funding agency through Directorate of Extension Education, PAU. Dr. Gill expressed his gratitude to Mr. N.S.Kang, Financial Commiossioner, (Development), Punjab and Mr. Lajwinder Singh, Director Horticulture, Punjab for their efforts in getting these projects for PAU.
News From: http://www.7StarNews.com
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
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