Friday, June 15, 2012

DRIVE FOR CLEAN AND GREEN COUNTRY SHOULD FOCUS ON NATIVE SPECIES OF PLANTS: BABA SEWA SINGH

LUDHIANA, JUNE 14:



A delegation of Nishan-e-Sikhi Charitable Trust from Khadur Sahib, district Tarn Taran, Punjab, visited the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) today to have thorough deliberations on various agricultural aspects. The delegation, led by Sant Baba Sewa Singh, interacted with the PAU Director of Research, Dr S.S. Gosal, Additional Director of Research (Horticulture), Dr H.S. Dhaliwal, Additional Director Communication, Dr Jagtar Singh Dhiman, Associate Director of Research, Dr P.S. Chahal and Heads of various departments. During the close interaction, Heads of Fruit Science, Vegetable Science, Forestry and Natural Resources (F&NR) and Floriculture and Landscaping (F&L) gave power point presentations, highlighting the achievements and research programmes of their respective departments.



In his remarks, Baba Sewa Singh said that PAU possesses immense scientific knowledge in agriculture and its allied occupations and has scaled great heights with its tireless efforts. Stating that it is easy to plant saplings but difficult to maintain and grow, he advocated the use of plants which serve twin purpose of providing shade as well as have medicinal properties. The drive for tree plantation should focus on native species, said he. He lamented the excessive drawl of water for large-scale paddy cultivation and burning of the crop residues by the farmers. It is vital to conserve the precious natural resources and the environment, at large, for the benefit of the future generations, he emphasized. He also advised the farmers to make judicious use of pesticides and fertilizers. Lauding the PAU experts for the development of national agriculture, he asked them to equip the Charitable Trust with the scientific know-how of innovative farm practices so that they can preserve the nature's bounties and serve the humanity with dedication.



The delegation members namely Mr Sandeep Randhawa and Mr Ajit S. Arora, highlighted the activities of the Trust and said that they are adopting nearly hundred villages every year for tree plantation. Besides, the Trust is also running a number of educational institutions including the Hockey Academy. The delegation members, evincing interest in ornamental plants and sugarcane cultivation, also suggested the inclusion of Tulsi in the Herbal Garden for its medicinal value.



Highlighting the salient research achievements in fruits, Dr G.S. Kahlon, Head, Department of Fruit Science, disclosed that area under the fruit crops in the Punjab state has increased from 28,847 ha in 1981-82 to 69,813 ha in 2010-11. He shed light on quality improvement in fruits, packaging of fruits, new production technologies, rejuvenation technology and management of insect-pests and diseases in fruits crops. Dr Kahlon informed the delegation about newly recommended fruit crop varieties including grapefruit (Star Ruby), mango (Ganglan Sindhuri), guava (Punjab Pink), pear (Punjab Soft), grapes (Punjab Purple), peach (Punjab Nectarine) etc.



Dr P.S. Brar, Head, Department of Vegetable Science, said that PAU has released 147 varieties of different vegetables till date, of which, 31 have been released at national level. Raising nursery of cucurbits in polythene bags and net-house technology of recommended crops including capsicum, tomato and brinjal are some of the other focus areas, he added. Talking about the drumsticks, popularly known as \'Horse Radish\' or \'Ben Oil,\' Dr Brar said that the PAU is also working on the same. Grown in Eastern and Southern India, nearly 38,000 ha area is under drumsticks and its production is 1.2 million tons, he divulged, telling that Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are the leading states in this regard.



Dr Avtar Singh, Head of Forestry & Natural Resources, said that the development of suitable agro-forestry models for different agro-climatic regions of the state is their major research priority. He discussed the economics of poplar plantations and told that farmers can get net returns on an average of Rs 80,500/acre/year from block poplar plantation, Rs 42,000/acre/year from boundary plantations and Rs 35,000/acre/year from rice-wheat. He also pointed out about the water-logging problems in various parts of Punjab.



Presenting the highlights of departmental activities, Dr Kushal Singh, Head of Floriculture & Landscaping, said that their major mandate includes the production of off-season flowers, disease management of important ornamentals and introduction and evaluation of plant material for landscape use. Educating about the avenue and boundary plantation, specimen and flowering shrubs, climbers and garden covers, he apprised the participating members of the propagation of chrysanthemum using burnt rice husk as rooting medium.



Dr B.S. Gill, Senior Agronomists, dwelt upon the medicinal and aromatic plants and remarked that the area under these crops is increasing in the state. The department is also maintaining Herbal Garden which consists of crops such as amla, neem, etc., he said.



The Director of Regional Research Station, Ballowal Saunkhri, Dr S.K. Sharma, delved upon the cultivation of drum stick in Kandi areas. He mentioned that drum stick is a wonder tree as its every part including leaves, fruits, roots and twigs are immensely useful, being rich in nutrients and vitamins.



Earlier, Dr Dhiman welcomed the delegates and the senior officers of the PAU. Maintaining nature's beauty and preserving natural resources are the need of the hour, he remarked, while laying emphasis on environmental concerns. The Centre for Communication and International Linkages of PAU is regularly bringing out useful literature including the monthly farm magazines, "Progressive Farming" and "Changi Kheti" for the timely dissemination of farm - worthy knowledge to the farmers, across the state, he highlighted.



S. Gurbhajan S. Gill, Editor, Punjabi, giving a brief introduction of the Sant Baba Sewa Singh and the Charitable Trust, stressed on imparting technical guidance and expertise to the farmers, sitting on nook and corner of Punjab, for the progressive and productive agriculture. Dr Chahal, proposing the vote of thanks, said that the PAU will continue to serve the farming community with dedication in future too. Sant Baba Sewa Singh was presented with a set of PAU publications.
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