LUDHIANA, APRIL 26:-----
A 36-member delegation of Agri-Pass Group (AGP), Australia, visited the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) today to gain scientific know-how of Indian agriculture and to apprise themselves of the research, teaching and transfer of technology programmes of the university. The delegation, comprising progressive farmers and technicians, visited the Plant Clinic at PAU Farmers' Service Centre and the experimental areas and research farms of the Departments of Plant Breeding and Genetics (PBG), Agronomy, Vegetable Crops and Entomology. Besides, they were also shown around the PAU Museum of Rural Life of Punjab.
Mark Jago, a progressive farmer from Australia, divulged that about 10% of the Australian population is involved in agriculture. Intensive farming is practiced in Australia and different crop varieties are raised in the vast areas of Central Australia. Informing that wheat, barley and canola are the major crops of Australia, Mr Jago revealed that many challenges are cropping up in Australian agriculture including farm labour shortage, declining number of youth in farming, expensive lands, construction of buildings on agriculture lands and escalating costs of farming including fertilizers. Big farms in Australia are owned by small number of farmers, he stated, adding that dairy sector is one of the flourishing industries in Australia.
Another delegation member, Maree Cahill, said that their the major objective of their visit to the PAU is to have in-depth understanding of the functioning and working of extension system of this university, field problems of the farmers, timely dissemination of agri-information and technology to the farming community and the subsidies being provided to them on various crops. Besides, the visiting delegation showed keen interest in the latest techniques and technologies, evolved by the PAU experts and various crop diseases and their management.
During their visit to the field area of PBG, Dr Allah Rang, Head of the department, alongwith with the team of scientists, showed the delegation, the demonstrations of various genetically improved varieties of different rabi crops.
Dr P.S. Brar, Head of Vegetable Crops, highlighted the status of vegetable crops in Punjab in the last 50 years and said that PAU has released 145 vegetable varieties till date including 31 varieties at national level. Disclosing that the area under vegetable crops has increased in the state, he said that the maximum area is under potato followed by peas. The department is, currently, focusing on the development of production and protection technologies of vegetable crops, added Dr Brar.
Dr P.K. Chhuneja, In-charge of Apiculture Unit and Dr Jaspal Singh, Entomologist, said that the PAU has been pioneer in successful introduction, establishment and multiplication of Italian honey bee which brought about the commercialization and industrialization in India. Punjab, today, is a leading state in beekeeping and is producing 37% of apiary honey. The experts told that the present emphasis is on promoting the diversification in apiculture for higher profitability of beekeeping.
Drs B.S. Gill and K.K. Vashisht, Senior Agronomists discussed the activities undertaken by the Department of Agronomy and shed light on weed control measures and medicinal and aromatic plants. The delegates also visited the herbal garden of the university.
Dr S.K. Thind, In-charge of Plant Clinic, said they aim at providing diagnostic services to the farmers and on the spot guidance, for their day-to-day field problems, in the disciplines of Plant Pathology, Entomology, Agronomy and Soil Sciences. He explained them about the net-house cultivation of vegetables, potassium deficiency in maize, aphid attack on chilies and sarson, stripe disease in barley, root rot/wilt in peas and iron deficiency in rice nursery. He also acquainted them with the sale of seeds to the farmers and the PAU publications published by Centre for Communication and International Linkages. The delegation members were presented with the PAU dockets of information.
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