LUDHIANA, FEBRUARY 14: A joint meeting of Kisan Committees of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and Fruit and Vegetable Producers was held under the chairmanship of the Vice-Chancellor Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, here today. The progressive farmers from across the state participated in the meet wherein all their farm queries were responded by the subject-matter specialists of the university. Dr L.S. Brar, Director of Horticulture, Punjab, also attended the meet.
Addressing the participants, Dr Dhillon said that the PAU lauds the tremendous contributions of the farming community which enabled the university to play a key role in heralding the green revolution. He called upon the farmers to give their feedback and suggestions to the PAU, from time to time, for devising and revamping the research programmes. Dr Dhillon disclosed that PAU is ready with a new high-yielding paddy variety which is of short- duration, consumes less water and is resistant to various diseases. Asking the farmers to read the farm literature, published by the PAU, regularly, he remarked that technology dissemination, live demonstrations and innovative farm practices along with the farmers’ feedback always help in the formulating the research priorities.
Stating that horticultural crops hold great significance in near future, Dr Brar exhorted the farmers to bring more area under fruits and vegetables for diversification in agriculture. He said that along with food security, nutritional security is also of paramount importance.
Earlier, Dr M.S. Gill, Director of Extension Education, PAU, welcomed the dignitaries and the participants to the meet. Referring to the farmers as the “Cream of the Punjab,” he said that the meet would provide a platform to the participants to interact and discuss their agri-problems with the experts of the university. “In view of farm labour shortage, the PAU has developed various technologies such as Happy Seeder for crop residue management, Laser Land Leveler that saves irrigation water upto 25% and mechanical paddy transplanter,” he told.
The participating progressive farmers sought information on various aspects of agriculture including DAP fertilizer, marketing of agricultural produce including fruits and vegetables and seeds of wheat, potato, guava and onion. Besides, they deliberated on paddy straw burning, weed control in wheat crop, subsidy on polyhouse and straw reaper, use of potassium nitrate in fruits, net-house cultivation of vegetables, processing of peas, disease control in fruit and vegetable crops, dryness of kinnow plants and shortage of power supply in rural areas. The farmers also expressed concern over the shortage of farm labour.
