PROGRESSIVE FARMER SHARES AGRICULTURAL INNOVATIONS WITH STUDENTS AND FACULTY OF PAU

LUDHIANA, APRIL 27:-----



The PAU Science Club organized a special lecture \'Innovations in agriculture\' by a progressive farmer of Punjab and former Member of Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices, Govt. of India, Mr. Mohinder Singh Grewal, in the Pal Auditorium. Mr. Grewal, while sharing his experiences in farming, brought into fore some contemporary concerns in agriculture. He shared how, through pro-active planning, hard work and diligence, one can make good profits from small holding. He dedicated his success to his wife, Mrs. Jagbir Kaur Grewal, and highlighted the farming innovations in terms of new cropping sequence involving potato, cole crops, other vegetables, sugarcane, winter maize, etc. to reduce cost of production. \'Rather than selling fresh vegetables, one could earn more profits through selling seeds\', said Mr. Grewal while elaborating his experiences in okra cultivation.



He added that he had made several innovations in terms of selling chickens, rather than eggs, to stay ahead of fellow farmers. He proudly mentioned that the muskmelons, potato and chickens produced by him fetched better prices in the market. He emphasized on the importance of self-marketing after proper grading and packing. He said that some useful crop combinations were standardized by him that include bottlegourd in maize, sugarcane in potato, carrot in potato, and late cauliflower in winter maize, etc. that, besides enhancing cropping intensity to more than 300 %, maintained soil conditions and provided better profitability. He said that the necessity is the mother of invention, while sharing that he designed a concrete suhaga (planker) and suggested that involvement of the family members was a must for a tangible success. Mr. Grewal said that it was a pity that young farmers, rather than working in the fields themselves, depend on migratory labour. He shared with the student audience that for success in any venture, the vital ingredients include devotion, dedication, determination, discipline and dutifulness. He invited students to visit his farm which is like an open laboratory for agricultural techniques and innovations.



In his presidential remarks, Dr. Manjit Singh Kang, Vice-Chancellor, PAU said that PAU considers farmers suggestions while formulating programmes for technology generation and dissemination and that Mr. Grewal is a store house of new ideas. Dr. Kang complemented him for being the first farmer from Punjab to have deliberated in CIMMYT, Mexico. He suggested the faculty to visit Mr. Grewal\'s farm with their students.



Earlier, the Director of Research, Dr. S.S.Gosal while introducing Mr. Grewal said that he has tried many new ideas successfully and that he shared the findings with other farmers as well.



Dr. Gursharan Singh, Dean, Postgraduate Studies, in his vote of thanks said that Mr. Grewal is always keeping himself ahead through new innovations and hit and trial way. Present in the house were Deans, Directors, Officers, Heads, faculty members and students from the constituent colleges of PAU.
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