Chandigarh, May 13, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A high level Delegation of Birmingham City University Scientists today visited Punjab State Farmers’ & Farm workers’ Commission (PSFFWC).
During the visit a meeting was held with Prof Dr Sukhpal Singh, Chairman, Punjab State Farmers’ & Farm workers’ Commission and Sh Navjot Singh Jarg, Chairman, GENCO with High Level Delegation of Scientists from Birmingham City University under the leadership of Prof Dr Chamkour Singh Athwal, along with Dr Florimond Gueniat, and Dr Shishank, Economist, Dr Sandeep Dhundhara, BCU, UK. Among others, Dr YP Verma, Registrar, and Dr Maninder Kaur, PU, Chandigarh were also present.
The motive of this meeting was to bring out more sustainable models for energy generation in the state.
Dr Cham is an authority on developing different models of harvesting Solar energy to reduce the dependency on electric power. He apprised that his team has piloted many projects in Bangladesh, and they have refined all technologies which can be replicated in Punjab with much lower costs.
He did a power point presentation about Smart-SIP model, which is a community based solar energy harvesting system, which can be implemented successfully in the Punjab.
Prof Dr Sukhpal Singh, also elaborated about the water and energy scenario of the state revealing that the state is deficit of 13.27 BCM water annually and about Rs 8000 Cr is being invested every year for supplying free electric supply to the AP Tubewells.
He further apprised the house that phased manner shifting to the solar energized pumps have been recommended in the Punjab State Agricultural Policy-2023, which will not only curtail the power expenses, however, the state would be in position to generate a handsome revenue of about Rs 7000 Cr annually after gestation period.
Dr Florimond told that Haryana has installed about 1.80 lakh solar pumps, whereas, Punjab has installed only about 17000 under PM-Kusum Scheme. Further, he told that Bangladesh is harvesting solar energy at a tremendous level. For instance, themost of the auto mobiles are being run on battery power in Bangladesh, eventually harvested from solar energy.
During deliberations Sh Navjot Singh Jarg offered them to work in his village at a pilot level and Prof Dr Sukhpal Singh suggested one more namely the Lamra-Kangri MPCS at Hoshiarpur, which is offering about 14 services to its clients of 4 adjoining villagers.
Prof Cham consented positively and will work with PSFC for bringing more prosperity in the villages. The meeting concluded with a consensus on promoting pilot projects, strengthening institutional collaboration, and encouraging evidence-based policy interventions for sustainable agricultural solarification with clean green energy in Punjab.
Dr RS Bains extended a voted of thanks to all the dignitaries and PSFC fellow colleagues.
FOLLOW NOW
