PAU Kisan Mela kicks off amidst high footfall of farmers 

Ludhiana, September 13, 2024: Amidst high footfall, clogged roads and flood of activities, a two-day Kisan Mela kicked off at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) today. Enthusiasm reigned the mela which saw a massive and energetic participation of the farmers from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir as well as Karnataka. The mela, celebrating the theme “Kudarati somey bachao, sab laiye khushali liyao,” made a call to the agricultural community to keep the entire Punjab prosperous and in high-spirits in the coming times through the conservation of natural resources, especially, water, soil and air. The Seed Sale Centre and a total of 350 stalls, put up at the mela, were jam-packed for the purchase of the quality seed of the rabi crops, planting material of horticultural crops and PAU farm publications; with farm women, accompanied by their children, going in for domestic shopping including food products, beverages and clothing; and farmers’ discussions with experts as well as their keen eye for live demonstrations highlighting agri-new technologies.

Inaugurating the mela, the chief guest Sardar Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Punjab, hailed the PAU and the Punjab farmers for making an ‘indelible impression’ in the field of agriculture and allied sector across the globe. Assuring the State government’s full support to the farmers, he observed, “Punjab will be happy only if its zamindars (farmers) will be prosperous.” “This mela is a place which should be worshipped by the farmers as it caters to their needs concerning seed and knowledge enhancement,” observed the Minister. In view of the sinking groundwater table resulting in water scarcity, it was important to shift to less water-guzzling paddy crops for conserving water, he urged the farmers. Further, Sardar Khuddian revealed that Rs 500 crore have been allocated by the Central and the State governments for paddy straw management this year in comparison to Rs 350 crore last year. He appealed to the farmers to shun stubble burning and adopt paddy straw management technologies for the pollution-free environment and welfare of the humanity.

In his presidential remarks, Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, stated that this mela, which started on a small-scale in 1967, has become the world’s most famous agricultural fair, remaining unsurpassed till date with the colossal participation of nearly 2 lakh farmers. Further, Dr Gosal called upon the farmers to diversify their cropping pattern by cultivating PBW 826 of wheat which has spread its wings from Jammu to Kolkata; PBG 10 of chickpea for export purpose; GSC 7 of gobhi sarson to compete with Canada-based canola oil; TL 17 of toria; BL 42 of berseem; and other alternate crops. Elaborating, Dr Gosal divulged that PAU developed vegetable kit (seed of 10 vegetables @ Rs 100/-), pulses-oilseeds kit (Rs 200/-), and fodder kit (four crops) have seen an enormous surge in their demand, and that it was becoming difficult to meet the farmers’ requirements. Urging the farmers to become tech-centric in the present era, the PAU VC advised them to enhance their knowledge by following PAU WhatsApp newspaper ‘Kheti Sandesh,’ weekly Facebook live programme on Thursday; YouTube channel, University website, Instagram and other ICT tools. He also underlined the need for conserving natural resources through the adoption of water saving and paddy residue management technologies.

Calling the melas as ‘Gyan de mele’ (encyclopedia of agriculture), Dr AS Dhatt, Director of Research, informed that the University has developed and recommended more than 950 crop varieties till date. He shared the important characteristics of the newly developed crop varieties comprising PBW Biscuit 1 of wheat, PHR 127 of raya-sarson, PGSH 2155 of gobhi sarson and OL 17 of javi. Although paddy was a water-gulping crop, yet it was essential to save water at every cost through the adoption of less-water requiring PR varieties like PR 126 which had resulted in water saving to a large extent, he said to the farmers. Besides, he highlighted the latest production and protection technologies in wheat, cotton, oilseeds and pulses.

Dr MS Bhullar, Director of Extension Education, while welcoming the dignitaries and the farming community, urged the farmers to visit the stalls for getting on the spot solutions to their farm-related issues. “The Krishi Vigyan Kendras across the Punjab are a hub of skill development,” he observed, while urging the rural community to expand their skills in subsidiary occupations for reaping pecuniary benefits alongwith agriculture.

Referring to Punjab’s Groundwater Report 2022, the Punjab’s Director of Agriculture Dr Jaswant Singh warned the farmers against the use of water-intensive paddy varieties which if not stopped now could make the Punjab ‘desert’ in the next 15-20 years. He suggested sowing less-water consuming ‘PR’ paddy varieties to save the precious resource ‘water’. Informing that 6,000 stubble management machines have already reached the farmers’ fields, Dr Singh asked the farmers to avail the benefit for in-situ paddy straw management.

In total, six progressive farmers and one farm woman were rewarded for exhibiting excellence in agriculture, horticulture and entrepreneurship. Karnail Singh of village Bassi Gulam Hussain, Hoshiarpur; and Gurpeet Singh of village Tharajwala, Sri Muktsar Sahib, were conferred with “Sardar Surjit Singh Dhillon Awards” for promoting crop diversification through vegetable cultivation. Bal Krishan of village Bhulan, Sangrur, was feted with “Sardar Dalip Singh Dhaliwal Memorial Award” for scaling heights in 30-year farming, whereas Mohandeep Singh of village Hayatpura, tehsil Samrala, Ludhiana, was awarded “Sardar Ujjagar Singh Dhaliwal Memorial Award” for being devoted to vegetable production. Devinder Singh of village Ram Tatwali, Hoshiarpur, was honoured with “Parwasi Bharti Award” for practicing agriculture using scientific methods. A farm woman Kulwinder Kaur of village Kath Mathi, Patiala, received “Sardarni Jagbir Kaur Grewal Memorial Award” for being a successful entrepreneur.

On the occasion, five PAU scientists, namely Dr GK Sikka, Dr BS Sekhon, Dr GS Manes, Dr Mandeep Singh and Dr Karamjit Sharma were also felicitated for making tremendous contributions to agricultural research and extension.

Besides, a farm worker Jasvir Singh from Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Samrala, was awarded an “Appreciation Certificate” for the large-scale seed distribution among the farming community. Mr Deepak Bhatia from Communication Centre and RGR Cell were feted for promoting farm literature. 

In addition, Dhan Dhan Baba Sant Khalsa Ji Sew Society of village Dubali, Tarn Taran was honoured with “Bhai Babu Singh Brar Best Pond Award” for the upkeep of the pond, resulting in water conservation and environmental protection.

Dr TS Riar, Additional Director Communication, while conducting the programme, asked the farmers to visit Skill Development Centre at PAU and seek financial assistance under Punjab Agri Business Incubator (PABI) project for starting agri-business.

Dr GPS Sodhi, Additional Director of Extension Education, proposed a vote of thanks.

At the mela, PAU VC felicitated the Punjab Agriculture Minister. Later, two special guests including Dr David Moore, an Agricultural Expert from Ireland and Dr K Veeranjaneyulu, Librarian, National Institute of Technology, Warangal, were also honoured.

The former Vice-Chancellor of GADVASU Dr Inderjeet Singh; members of PAU’s Board of Management, namely Dr DS Cheema, Dr Ashok Kumar, Sardar HS Ghaznipur and Sardar Amanpreet Singh Brar; Chairman of PUNSUP Sardar MS Sidhu; and Food Commissioner of Punjab Mr Bal Mukund Sharma were also present on the occasion.