LUDHIANA, JUNE 11:–“There are six lakh villages in India. Therefore, farmers should go in for agricultural diversification to bring in second green revolution in the country,” stated Dr S. Ayyappan, Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research (DARE), and Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, during his recent visit to Punjab. He was accompanied by the team of farm experts including Dr K.K. Kokate, Deputy Director General Agricultural Extension, ICAR, New Delhi, Dr A.M. Narula, Zonal Project Director, Zone-I, ICAR campus, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Dr M.S. Gill, Director of Extension Education, PAU and Dr B.S. Dhillon, Deputy Director, KVK, Amritsar. The experts visited Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Amritsar; which is under construction at Nagkalan village on Majitha road; and the orchards and farm of Major Manmohan Singh at village Tabalpura and Firivarian, respectively.
Inaugurating the Verka Turmeric Processing Plant at village Firivarian, the chief guest Dr Ayyappan highlighted the significance of value addition in diverse crops. He interacted with the farmers about the agrarian issues being faced by them. Dr Ayyappan appreciated the work and efforts of KVK Amritsar and visited the exhibition put up by them and other line departments. He also interacted with BSF Jawans at Chandigarh Border Post on the bank of River Ravi.
Addressing the farmers, Dr Kokate said that there is a great potential of increase in the area under horticultural crops in Amritsar district. He lauded the work done by the progressive farmers of the village Firivarian in the field of diversification.
Dr Narula stressed that the farmer-scientist interactions should be conducted frequently at district level for the upgradation of scientific knowledge.
The officials namely Dr Dilbag Singh Dhanju, Chief Agriculture Officer, Amritsar, Dr Baj Singh, Deputy Director Horticulture, Dr T.S Dhillon, CCPDO, Dr Dalbir Singh Verka, former MLA and Commissioner, Punjab Right to Service Commission, Government of Punjab, also attended the function. Informing that the Department of Agriculture is working closely with KVKs for the transfer of farm technologies to the farmers, they underlined the need to adopt diversification in horticultural crops too along with the field crops.
During their interaction with the experts, the farmers shared their experiences and sought solutions for the emerging farm challenges. The farmers of border villages suggested building of a temporary bridge on River Ravi for easy transportation of their inputs and produce.
Earlier, Dr Gill welcomed the chief guest and the participants and highlighted the activities of KVK Amritsar. Saying that PAU, since its service in 1962, has been serving the farming community with great dedication and devotion, he advised the farmers to continue equipping PAU with their feedback for devising the research programmes. Maj. Manmohan Singh proposed the vote of thanks.
