Ballowal Saunkhari (SBS Nagar), Septemeber 06, 2022 (Yes Punjab News)
A large number of farmers attended the Kisan Mela organised at Punjab Agricultural University’s Regional Research Station Ballowal Saunkhari on Tuesday.Farmers from Ballowal Saunkhari and neighboring areas thronged the one-day KisanMela. The Mela was based on the theme “Kisani Jawani Ate Paun Pani Bachaiye, Aao Rangla Punjab Banaiye.” Heavy rush of farmers was seen at the mela, wherein farmers interacted with the experts, sought solutions to their farm queries, saw live demonstrations, purchased quality seeds, planting material and PAU farm publications.
On this occasion, stalls were put up by different departments of PAU to provide a platform to visiting farmers to interact with scientists and to know about newly released crop varieties and latest technologies, discuss their farm issues and seek solutions for the same. The agricultural scientists informed the farmers about the newly released varieties of wheat and suggested the farmers to buy fruit/vegetable seeds.
Sh.Jai Krishan Singh Rauri, Deputy Speaker, Punjab Legislative Assembly was invited as the chief guest of the mela. He stated that the scientific and technological advancements of the Punjab Agricultural University have largely contributed to the agricultural development of Kandi region.
He urged the farmers to maintain the soil quality of this region for having betterfutureagricultural practices.He emphasized that the small and marginal farmers of the region may opt for food processing, value addition and self-marketing of farm produce to improve their livelihood. In his view, the Regional Research Station of Ballowal Saunkhri is doing a remarkable job in the development and dissemination of agricultural technologies suitable for the region.
Apart from this, a College of Agriculture has been established at the Regional Research Station, Ballowal Saunkhri which offers a four year degree in the B.Sc. Agriculture since last year.
DrSatbir Singh Gosal, Vice Chancellor, PAU inaugurated the Mela and called upon the visiting farmers to opt for hybrid seed production, use inputs as per need, go for soil testing, adopt subsidiary occupations, focus on co-operative marketing and mechanization, and make use of expertise of PAU scientists.He urged the farmers to attend KisanMelas which to his mind were ‘Gyan ateVigayan de mele’ as they disseminate information about the latest agricultural technologies and recent advances in farm practices.
He also impressed upon the farmers to share their problems with the scientists which will enable the university to redirect the research accordingly.He endorsed the concept of organic farming and highlighted the significance of social media platforms for connecting with the university experts which played a vital role especially during the covid period. He further added that the farmers should cut down on unnecessary expenditure for developing truly a prosperous Punjab.
Dr Ashok Kumar, Director of Extension Education, PAU welcomed the dignitaries and the participating farmers and farm women.He felicitated DrGosal for being appointed as the Vice chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University and expressed confidence in his abilities to carry forward state of Punjab in the field of agriculture.
He advised the farmers to follow the field practices suggested by the PAU experts and exhorted the farmers to make judicious use of the limited resources like water, fertilizers and insecticides in order to reduce the expenses on farming and attain better health.
PAU’s monthly magazine ChangiKheti(Progressive Farming) should be subscribed by the farmers for getting latest information about agricultural practices recommended by the university, he said.He welcomed the attendance of the farm women in the KisanMela which indicated the increasing involvement of women in the farming practices.
Dr Ajmer Singh Dhatt, Director of Research, PAU said, “The university is conducting research on large number of crops and has developed a significant number of crop varieties/ hybrids till date.He further said the university is now reprioritizing its research in perspective of new challenges faced by the Punjab Agriculture with particular emphasis on depleting water resources and rising cost of cultivation etc. He encouraged the farmers to go for drip irrigation in order to combat the problem of scanty rainfall.
Mrs Santosh Kataria, MLA, Balachaur who attended the mela as Guest of Honor remarked that the Kisanmelas go a long way in improving the economic status of farmers. SDM, Balachaur; Vice Chancellor, DrSatbir SinghGosal; Dr Ashok Kumar, Director of Extension Education, PAU and farmers with noticeable contributions in the agricultural domain were honored at the occasion of the mela. The students of the College of Agriculture, Ballowal Saunkri gave a mesmerizing bhangra performance.
Dr Manmohanjit Singh , Director, RRS,Ballowal Saunkhari while proposing the vote of thanks, shed light on the activities of RRS, Ballowal Saunkhri and new crop varieties, released by PAU. He thanked the government of Punjab and PAU administration for founding the College of Agriculture at Regional Research Station, Ballowal Saunkhri.
Undoubtedly, such melas update the knowledge of farmers on newly released crop varieties as well as their production and protection technologies and should be organized from time to time.
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