Seminar on “Enhancing the Adoption of Micro Irrigation for Potato Cultivation” organised by Department of Soil and Water Conservation, Punjab today

Ludhiana, October 19, 2022: With an objective to give crop diversification a push and encourage water conservation in agriculture, Department of Soil and Water Conservation, Punjab organized a Seminar on “Enhancing the Adoption of Micro Irrigation for Potato Cultivation” at Pal Auditorium, College of Agriculture, PAU, Ludhiana today. The Seminar was organized to sensitize farmers regarding use of drip and sprinkler irrigation systems on potato crop, which is grown on approximately 1 lakh hectares per year in the state. 

It is worthwhile to note that potato grown in the state notably seed potato is in huge demand across the country with many private companies such as Pepsi, Mccain, ITC etc venturing into potato cultivation in the state.
 
The seminar brought together more than 200 delegates comprising of officers of departments, PAU scientists, Micro Irrigation equipment suppliers besides the FMCG companies and potato farmers. The seminar included a mix of lectures, technical sessions and case studies and farmer experiences along with issues and problems being faced by potato cultivators. 

The major outcome of the session was that potato cultivation with micro irrigation technique brings about potato size, lesser infestation of diseases negligible saving on input costs besides higher productivity and production thereby increasing farmer income.
 
Speaking on the occasion Dr. G.P.S. Sodhi, Additional Director of Extension Education, P.A.U stressed upon the need to shift to micro irrigation techniques in agriculture urged farming community to adopt smart farming techniques given the depleting ground water table of the state. 

Mohinder Singh Saini, CCS, Punjab speaking on the occasion said that department is striving to disseminate various water conservation techniques and called for support from farming community to shift to these technologies. 

Dr. Ajmer Singh Dhatt, Director Research, PAU, Dr Rakesh Sharda, Principal Invigilator, PFDC, P.A.U, Dr. Ajmer Brar, Principal Agronomist, PAU and Dr. Satpal Sharma, Principal Vegetable Breeder also delivered expert lectures and sensitized the participants on various aspects of water conservation. 

Davinder Singh Dosanjh, CEO, HZPC Mahindra Pvt. Ltd. declared that he will give 50% of farmer share doing contract farming with them and adopting micro irrigation techniques in potato. Farmers adopting sprinkler and drip irrigation system in potato were felicitated.