ICAR bestows innovative farmer award upon progressive fish farmer Rana

Ludhiana, July 27, 2012: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has conferred the “Jagjivan Ram Innovative Farmer Award 2011” upon the member of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) Kisan Club, Rajvinder Pal Singh Rana, in recognition of his innovative farming practices. 

The PAU Vice-Chancellor, Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon congratulated Rana for this achievement and said that such farmers are a source of inspiration for other farmers. There is much to learn from innovative farmers, he said. He exhorted the farming community to adopt innovative techniques and technologies in agriculture and its allied fields, for profitability, productivity and sustainability.

Lauding the accomplishment of the farmer, Dr M.S. Gill, Director of Extension Education said that Rana hailing from Mandianai, Ludhiana,  brought innovative ideas in fish production to Punjab and developed a cost  effective machine for tagging fish. The cost of the tag comes out 10 paisa/tag instead of 4 to 5 $/tag in international market, he highlighted.  In addition to developing manure with available fish waste and jiggery, he evolved technologies to carry fish alive in the fish market by using an air blower which could operate with 12 V DC motor, added Dr Gill.

Dr PPS Lubana, Dean of College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology said that by winning this award, Rana has brought laurels to the State and the PAU.  P.P.S.Pangli, the President of the PAU Kisan Club, said that  the awardee farmer used the fish skin for different purposes adding that he had tried various innovations in this. The farmer has got a long association with the club.

Rana attributed his success to the PAU for providing him timely technical guidance and expertise with regard to various farm practices, due to which he has been able to bag this prestigious honour. He also expressed gratitude towards the PAU liaison officer-cum- fishery expert, Dr H.S. Sehgal for his support and a word of advice.