PAU VC CALLS UPON FARMERS TO PARTICIPATE IN ON-CAMPUS KISAN MELA IN LARGE NUMBER

LUDHIANA, SEPTEMBER 18:



The preparations are afoot at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) for the forthcoming on-campus Kisan Mela, slated for September 21-22. S. Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Minister of Punjab Public Works Department (PWD) will be the Chief Guest whereas S. Gurbachan Singh Babehali, Chief Parliamentary Secretary (Agriculture) of Punjab, will be the Guest of Honour on this occasion. The Vice-Chancellor of the PAU, Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon will preside over the farmers' fair, based on the theme "Pawan Guru Pani Pita, Mata Dharat Mahatt (save air, water and soil health for posterity)."



Dr Dhillon has called upon the farming community to participate in the Kisan Mela in large number. The mela aims at equipping the farmers with new varieties of various crops and their production and protection technologies, improved farm implements, subsidiary agricultural occupations and home science technologies. He said that the farm experts will focus on technologies and inputs that improve soil health, enhance farm productivity and minimize the loss of precious natural resources. Dr Dhillon highlighted that the farm women and rural youth too will be benefited from mela activities which will touch various aspects of agriculture and allied occupations.



The Director of Research, Dr S.S. Gosal divulged that the PAU has evolved/recommended 707 improved varieties/hybrids of different crops, which have been well-received by the farmers. The production and protection technologies are generated with a focus on increased profitability and productivity, sustainable use of natural resources, minimizing environmental risks and appropriate provision of support services like market intelligence, he said. Therefore, mela will provide an opportunity for the effective exchange of information between farmers and scientists for the future development of agriculture in the Punjab state, added Dr Gosal.



The Director of Extension Education, Dr M.S. Gill said that the PAU has a strong network of technology transfer programmes and the most important activity in this regard is the "Kisan Mela." The farm technologies developed by the university experts will be demonstrated in the form of exhibition, live sample display and field demonstrations, he told, adding that the complete package of technologies for rabi crops will be disseminated to the farmers for large-scale adoption. Besides, the farmers can procure quality seeds of different crops during the mela, he informed.
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