EXPERTS DISCUSS FLORICULTURE, FARM MACHINERY, PROCESSING IN THE HORTICULTURAL WORKSHOP AT PAU

LUDHIANA, NOVEMBER 3:-----



On the second day of the state level, \'Research and extension specialists workshop for horticultural crops\', the technical session-III was chaired by the Director of Extension Education, Dr. M.S.Gill. He said that floriculture holds a potential in Punjab Agriculture and that the PAU scientists and technocrats of state Department of Horticulture will have to deal with the emerging challenges through their need based research and transfer of technology. He remarked that processing and packaging were important components of horticulture industry in view of huge post harvest losses experienced by horticultural commodities in the prevailing scenario. He said that the net-house technology for vegetable crop is getting popular with farmers. Dr. Gill said that machinery has a great role in bringing in precision and timeliness of operations. He said that the National Horticultural Mission has offered a great support to horticulture and mushroom programmes.



Dr. Kushal Singh, Head, Department of Floriculture and Landscaping presented an overview of new researches on floriculture and post-harvest handling of cut flowers carried out at PAU. Dr. (Mrs.) Kiranjit Kaur Dhatt said that the PAU has released new varieties of gladiolus namely, Pink Elegance (Pink), Punjab Flame (Carrot red), Glance (Orange) and Lemon Delight (Light yellow). She said that the crop improvement programme on flowers has been strengthened at PAU. Mr. Parminder Singh while discussing cultivation of marigold, in the light of scientific findings, said that it has a scope in Punjab owing to its year round cultivation. Dr. (Mrs.) Poonam Singh shared new researches on chrysanthemum and said that some promising hybrids with attractive colours have been identified. Dr. Premjit Singh, said that proper plant protection measures were needed to protect flowers from the disease attack. He shared the diagnostic symptoms and control measures of different diseases affecting floricultural plants in Punjab. Dr. R.K.Dubey discussed the principles of landscaping to make surroundings of houses and buildings beautiful.



Dr. Gursahib Singh spoke on the farm machinery such as vegetable transplanter and root crop harvester, while Dr. Jaskaran Singh on post hole digger, garlic planter, self-propelled power weeder, and Dr. Baldev Dogra on aeroblast sprayer and vegetable seed extracting machine. Dr. Manpreet Singh said that the precision vegetable farming can pay great dividend. He also discussed about pick positioner machine. They said that the PAU Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering is carrying out research, evaluation and related studies on different machines.



Dr. B.S.Ghuman while discussing post harvest handling of fruits and vegetables shared the new technologies such as enhancing shelf life of fruits and vegetables. Dr. Poonam A. Sachdev said that processing and value addition of fruits and vegetable produce can offer better returns. She discussed new technologies for juice, purees, concentrates, dehydrated products from fruits and vegetables. The dehydrated slices of carrot and bittergourd were displayed. The PAU technologies for mustard green, baby corn, fruit candies, leather and marmalade were highlighted.



Dr. K.G.Singh discussed the layout and design of net houses. He said that these structures should be erected at a raised place in proper direction. He shared the economics of different designs and sizes.



The participants\' queries were responded to by experts. Among the feedback received from the audience, bringing out literature on organic farming, machinery and ornamentals was suggested. Earlier, the participating Officers were taken to visit the college orchard, mushroom farm, vegetable research farm, floriculture research area on the PAU campus where they interacted with experts. They showed keen interest in production of disease free quality nursery plants of kinnow, net-house cultivation of vegetables, flower seed production and technologies for natural resource management.
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