(PAU)FARM TECHNOLOGY TO PERCOLATE DOWN TO THE FARMERS THROUGH IMPROVISED MODE: DR. KANG

LUDHIANA, MARCH 15:-----



A meeting to review the progress of \'Reviving the Green Revolution\' (RGR) programme of Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT) was held under the Chairmanship of Dr. Manjit Singh Kang, Vice-Chancellor, PAU wherein Dr. G.S.Chahal, Executive Director, SRTT explained the ongoing programme of SRTT. Others who participated included the former Director of Extension Education, Dr. N.S.Malhi, Dr. J.S.Dhillon, Dr. A.S.Dhatt, Mr. A.S.Dhindsa, Mr. Jasbir Singh and the Director of Extension Education, Dr. M.S.Gill.



Dr. Kang in his remarks said that SRTT has a comprehensive agenda to carry forward the technology generated by PAU for the larger interest of the farming community. He suggested that cooperative system can boost the marketing of crops emphasized as alternate crops for diversification. Citing example of pulses especially moongbean, he said that value addition can help promote efficient marketing. The need of the hour is to pass on timely information and technologies to farmers, said Dr. Kang adding that through improved mode, the technology can percolate down to the farmers, who can harness the benefit.



Dr. Chahal said that the programmes handled by SRTT aimed at disseminating the PAU technologies with an aim of promoting diversification of paddy based cropping system, reduction in the cost of production and enhancing the economic profitability of farmers. He highlighted that the partners in the SRTT programme include PAU, state Departments of Agriculture and Horticulture, GADVASU and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.





Dr. Malhi in his presentation highlighted the technology dissemination activities held by the RGR programme. He said that IPM in cotton, basmati rice and maize has led to multifarious benefits in terms of enhancement of yield, reduction in the use of pesticides and the overall cost of production. He said that the technology generated by PAU scientists has been transmitted to the farmers. Dr. Malhi discussed technology transfer gaps and suggested corrective measures.





Dr. Malhi highlighted that the interventions made in various components such as IPM (upscaling and validation of technology), public-private multi-agency partnership, village agricultural information centers, etc. He shared that IPM in cotton has covered 920 villages in the state. He suggested that to discourage non-recommended hybrids in cotton belt, the Department of Agriculture, Punjab should procure the hybrid and distribute the farmers. Similarly, for the management of parawilt in cotton, cobalt chloride, recommended by PAU should be procured for distribution and for this the necessary budget provision should be made. He highlighted the relevance of information technology and geographic information based systems in contemporary agriculture. Dr. Malhi said that some farmers who do not follow PAU recommended economic threshold level (ETL) for different pests. The other interventions discussed included the seed treatment and nematode management. He said that the interventions led to increased use of seed treatment from 58 to 72% in a year. He said that the modules for IPM in maize have been tried in four villages in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar and Hoshiarpur districts that led to yield enhancement by 7%, profitability enhancement by 23%, sprays reduction by 46% and curtailing cost of production by 46%. The meeting identified some interventions such as safe production and consumption of vegetables, enhancing horticultural production, reduction in the pesticide use, developing prototypes of net-houses and poly-houses together with appropriate varieties, models for home gardens and eco-friendly management of pest and diseases and efficient market linkages.



Dr. Gill, highlighted the technology transfer programmes of PAU and added that there were many occasions and mechanisms to gather feedback from the farmers to reorient the programmes and activities of PAU.
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