Astounding response to PAU Gurdaspur Kisan Mela; A reinforcement of farmers' faith in varsity recommendations

Ludhiana, March 20, 2024: Continuing its impactful Kisan Mela series, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) hosted the significant event at Krishi Vigyan Kendra Gurdaspur, emphasizing agricultural diversification as the key to enhanced income and sustainable progress.

Chief Guest of the day, PAU Vice Chancellor, Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, unveiled the Package of Practices for Kharif crops 2024, urging farmers to embrace university recommendations and connect through farm publications and social media. Dr Gosal highlighted the success of PAU-developed varieties like PR 126 in boosting yields, even amid challenges like monsoon floods. He advocated for farmers to adopt PAU kits for diversified farming, ensuring self-sustainability and reducing market dependency. Stressing soil health, biofertilizers, and stubble conservation, he introduced cost-effective technologies like surface seeders for resilient crop cultivation. Addressing the changing dynamics of farming, Dr Gosal urged farmers to reconsider traditional practices and explore agribusiness models, encouraging retention of the younger generation in agriculture.

Guest of Honour, S Hardyal Singh Gaznipur, Member PAU Board of Management, echoed the call for water conservation and emphasized the need for enhanced processing facilities, particularly for litchi, cauliflower, strawberry, and mango in the district.

Dr Karamjit Singh, SDM Gurdaspur, lauded the diverse stalls and urged farmers to implement learnings from the event. Dr Harmandeep Singh from the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, discussed agricultural schemes while cautioning against banned pesticides.

Director of Research, Dr. Ajmer Singh Dhatt, highlighted PAU's research milestones, including value-added products and advancements in crop transplantation, agricultural machinery, processing and drone technology.

Earlier, Dr Makhan Singh Bhullar, Director of Extension Education, while welcoming the dignitaries and the guests, emphasized the importance of diversification while underscoring the mela theme urging farmers to diversify towards vegetable, fruits cultivation for increasing income. He brought to light the Vice Chancellor’s commitment to farmers upliftment in that Dr Gosal has been involved at the helm of affairs at PAU in various capacities. He thanked the farmers for assembling in large numbers and ensuring the success of the mela.

The event also saw honouring of progressive farmers by the dignitaries.

Dr Bhupinder Singh Dhillon, Director Regional Research Station Gurdaspur proposed the vote of thanks.

The proceedings of the day were conducted by Additional Director Communication, Dr Tejnder Singh Riar who also highlighted self sufficiency among the farming community as need of the hour. He urged the farmers to ensure household running from farm produce itself, exhorting them to benefit from various schemes of skill development, incubation training and financial support being offered by PAU in tandem with the Punjab government.