Thursday, May 31, 2012

TRAINING COURSE ON CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE BEGINS AT PAU

LUDHIANA, MAY 30:-----



An advance course on "Conservation Agriculture: Gateway for Productive and Sustainable Cropping Systems" began here today. The course has been jointly organized by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Cereal System Initiative for South Asia (CSISA), Punjab Hub and Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). The participants from across the globe including countries like Iran, Afghanistan, China, Bangladesh and India are attending the course which will culminate on June 9.



Inaugurating the programme, the chief guest Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, said that India's agricultural production has jumped to 253 million tones in 2011. The cropping intensity which was 126% in 1996 has risen to nearly 190% presently, he disclosed. Although wheat and rice productivity has augmented in Punjab, yet the predominant cropping system is posing challenges of depleting underground water table, multi-nutrient deficiencies in crops, soil health degradation and exploitation of natural resources. Dr Dhillon emphasised the need to adopt conservation agriculture practices for efficient use of water and nutrients and preservation of natural resources. In order to meet the national food requirements, technology innovations in farm sector and their proper dissemination to the farming community is vital, he stressed. Lauding the progress of PAU in conservation agriculture, he advised the farmers to adopt university designed techniques such as Laser Land Leveler and Happy Seeder for productivity enhancement and resource conservation.



In his remarks, the guest of honour, Dr D.S. Cheema, Dean, College of Agriculture, said that conservation agriculture is the need of hour. In view of nearly 98% irrigated area of the Punjab state and assured minimum support price (MSP) for rice-wheat, there is a great stress on natural resources due to their over-exploitation. The farmers continue to indulge in illegal practice of paddy and wheat straw burning unmindful of the consequences, noted Dr Cheema, while underlining the need to advocate change through new cropping systems.



Dr M.L. Jat, Senior Cropping System Agronomist, CIMMYT (India), presenting an overview of the course, said that trainees from varied spheres including agronomy, soil science, engineering, plant breeding and plant pathology are participating in the programme. Dr Jat added that the conservation agriculture acts as a vehicle for change for sustainable natural resources and crop management. The major emphasis will be on imparting hands-on-training to the participants, in addition, to operation of farm machinery, crop diversification, and management of water, pest, weed, residue, soil and irrigation, he highlighted.



Earlier, Dr H.S. Sidhu, Senior Agriculture Engineer, Borlaug Institute for South Asia, Ludhiana, welcomed the dignitaries and the participants. He said that apart from laying emphasis on climate change and new tools and techniques in nutrient management, the course will put thrust on field training on laser leveling, tractor mounted sensors and applications, spray techniques and raised bed planting. Dr Yadvendra Singh, Consulting Senior Soil Scientist, CIMMYT, proposed the vote of thanks.
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