Chilli growers emerging as the drivers of diversification: KVK Ferozepur

Ludhiana, July 21,2023: In order to generate awareness on scientific vegetable production and capacity building of vegetable growers, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ferozepur organized a seminar on ‘Handholding of farmers for profitable vegetable cultivation’ on July 20, 2023. The programme was organized under the umbrella of Punjab Agricultural University and ICAR ATARI Zone 1, Ludhiana. Around 90 progressive chilli/ vegetables growers from 28 villages across the district along with dignitaries from PAU and allied departments participated in the programme.

Dr Tarsem Singh Dhillon, Head, Department of Vegetable Science, PAU, Ludhiana graced the event as the Chief Guest. While addressing the farmers, Dr Dhillon congratulated the chilli growers of the district for showing the way in crop diversification and reaping rich dividends. He further shared that PAU has released CH-27 in 2015 and CH-52 in 2021. He informed that PAU has also signed agreement with different companies/farmers for quality seed production in sufficient quantity.

Dr Salesh Kumar Jindal, Sr. Vegetable Breeder, Department of Vegetable Science, PAU, Ludhiana while addressing the farmers shared that the fruits of chilli hybrid CH-52 are long (9.8cm), thin skinned, deep green (when immature) to deep red (on maturity), pungent (0.9% capsaicin) and high in dry matter (25%) which render it highly suitable for processing. The hybrid gives an average yield of 106q/acre and is suitable for cultivation under low tunnels, he added.

Dr Harpal Singh Bhullar, Entomologist, Department of Vegetable Science, PAU, Ludhiana said that with moderate resistance to leaf curl virus, fruit rot and root knot nematodes, the chilli hybrid CH-52 is less prone to the biotic stresses. He further shared information on fruit fly traps for vegetable crops and methods for safe use of insecticides for quality vegetable produce without chemical residues.

S. Simran Singh, HDO, shared the data on area, production, and yield of different vegetable crops (chilli, potato, capsicum, peas, carrot, arvi, bittergourd, etc.) in district Ferozepur during the current year. He also shed light on various farmer welfare schemes of Department of Horticulture, Punjab.

Dr Jagjot Singh Gill, DES, FASC, Ferozepur also shared the latest recommendations for cultivation of kharif crops.

The progressive chilli growers, S. Jagmeet Singh of vill: Shehzadi, S. Balwinder Singh of vill: Mahalam, S. Manpreet Singh of vill: Basti Dabbeyanwali, S. Surjit Singh of vill. Basti Khushal Singhwala and S. Lakhwinder Singh of vill: Toot shared the common concerns of vegetable/chilli growers. They stressed on the need to set up cold storage and processing facility in the Ferozepur. Not only they lauded the initiative of KVK/PAU in support of chilli farmers but also expressed their collective readiness to adopt PAU technologies.

Dr GS Makkar, Deputy Director (Trg), KVK Ferozepur extended a warm welcome to the dignitaries and farmers. He said “our efforts are specifically focussed on developing a framework for capacity building of vegetable/ chilli growers and facilitating their linkages for processing, storage and remunerative marketing”. The attractive returns from chilli crop in recent years have spiced up the interests of growers due to which the current area under the crop is expected to swell further in the coming years, Dr Makkar added. Therefore, KVK is pushing to bring all stakeholders on a single platform for synergised efforts to safeguard the vegetable growers from the deepening crisis of weather anomalies, biotic stresses, fluctuating prices, etc. Their concerns related to need of processing facility, cold storage facility, easy and affordable availability of quality seed also need be addressed, he added.

During the event KVK team including Dr Munish Kumar, Sh. Jasbir Singh, Ms Amandeep Kaur, Ms Swarnjeet Kaur, Ms Inderjit Kaur also shared vital information. Exhibition of recommended technologies, PAU literature, products of KVK trainees, and farmer-scientists interaction in the chilli fields at village Valtoha were other attractions at the event.