Ludhiana, March 20, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Beating ‘wet threat’ as per Indian Meteorological Department alert, the Kisan Mela at the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) opened on an optimistic note, raising the spirits of the Punjabi farmers under cloudy skies, cool breeze and pleasant weather.
Weather was kind enough to shower its mercy on the visiting farmers, who had come all along with their families to purchase the improved seed of kharif crops, planting material, biofertilizers and farm publications; have a look at live field demonstrations; discuss their ongoing agri-issues with experts; learn the latest household management techniques; and buy food products and clothing material, prepared by the PAU-trained self-help groups.
The main attraction of the mela was the stalls of the eateries offering traditional snacks, being cooked using LPG gas cylinders and traditional chullahs (clay stove) in the gas shortage times, to the farmers, who savored and relished it with their families and fellow farmers. The mela, promoting “Adoption of crop diversification for environmental protection,” saw farmers in a jubilant mood during the cultural programme also.
Inaugurating the mela, the Chief Minister of Punjab Sardar Bhagwant Singh Mann, who was the chief guest, observed that teaching and agriculture methods have undergone great change.
“First experiment and then recommend to the farmers,” said he to PAU. Stating that this University was the only varsity to have secured top rank worldwide (2024-25), the CM lauded Dr Gosal for his unwavering commitment to the rise of PAU through new breakthroughs and maintenance of benchmark standards.
Assuring PAU of financial support for the overhaul, he stressed on boosting hostels and sports infrastructure (hockey turf) at agri-varsity to hold Hockey Asia Cup in October (Bathinda, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Mohali) this year. A total of 118 crore has been released to PAU for agricultural research, he disclosed, while ensuring of enhancing the fiscal assistance.
“Punjab has always remained at the top, be in the national anthem or serving the langar or society at various places,” he said, exhorting the farmers not to make agriculture secondary, rather keep it a priority to keep the head of Punjab high. Several efforts were being made to give a push to agriculture by joining hands with Japan International Cooperation Agency to fortify horticulture and other firms for residue management, he said.
Later, the Punjab CM expressed gratitude to Dr GS Khush, Paddy Daddy and World Food Prize Laureate, stating that a research centre was all set to come in his name.
The guest of honour Sardar Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, Agriculture Minister, Punjab, called for water conservation in order to make Punjab green and greener again.
Presiding over the mela, Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, made a call for tackling imperative concerns of water depletion, climate change, paddy stubble burning and sliding farm income through the adoption of crop diversification (potato varieties Punjab Potato 102, 103 and 104 as well as sugarcane varieties- CoPb 95 and 98), non-water intensive (PR 126, 131, 132 and 133) and climate-smart crop varieties, and value addition, thus, leading to agri-innovation and wealth creation in Punjab.
“A drastic shift from traditional to modern, water-guzzling to water-saving, climate-risk to climate-resilient crops and technologies as well as agriculture to agri-business and digital agriculture was the voice of the contemporary farming and farmers,” he observed. “Adoption of farmer-, women- and youth-centric avenues like mushroom growing, beekeeping, value addition and agro-processing, animal husbandry, apparel and textile, etc. could contribute to their social and economic expansion,” he added.
Shedding light on the new recommendations, Dr AS Dhatt, Director of Research, revealed the development of one variety each of paddy, cotton and maize; eight vegetable and three fruit crop varieties; and one of agro-forestry for general cultivation in Punjab.
These included PR 133 of paddy, PBD 88 of cotton and NK 7328 of maize; MH 56 of muskmelon, PCBH 1 of brinjal, PSGH 1 and 3 of sponge gourd, PBOG 5 and 18 of bottle gourd, Matar Ageta 8 and Punjab 90 of pea, Shani-e-Punjab 1 and 2 as well as Punjab Nectarine 2 of peach; and Casuarina (jor-tor) of agroforestry.
In his concluding remarks, Dr MS Bhullar, Director of Extension Education, called upon the farmers to pay a whirlwind visit to the stalls; adopt newly PAU developed crop varieties and agricultural technologies; and obtain 35 skill-related trainings in agriculture from PAU, Ludhiana and its Krishi Vigyan Kendras in Punjab; to address the issues of water, climate, market and financial volatilities.
Dr TS Riar, Additional Director Communication, apprised the farmers of free access to print, electronic, social media and digital tools for right knowledge and information.
Six progressive farmers were honoured for excellence in agriculture and allied occupations. Jaswant Singh of village Bhunder Bhaini, district Sangrur; and Kamaljeet Singh of village Birarwal, district Patiala, were felicitated with “Chief Minister Awards,” while Surjit Singh of village Birmpur, district Hoshiarpur; and Sandeep Singh of village Chak Malan, district Hoshiarpur, were conferred with “CRI Pump Awards.” Jarnail Singh of village Jagatpura, district Tarn Taran, was awarded “Jathedar Gurdita Singh Mahal Memorial Puraskar,” whereas Lakhwinder Singh of village Manaili, district Fatehgarh Sahib, was feted with “Sardarni Prakash Kaur Memorial Award.”
The Punjab CM feted Dr Khush and his wife Dr (Mrs) Harwant Khush; Mr KAP Sinha, Chief Secretary, Punjab; Dr GS Brar, State Agri-Director; Sardar HS Mundian and Sardar Khuddian. Dr Gosal also honoured Sardar Mann with a shawl and memento.
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