Sustainable agriculture should not only be around cereals but around legumes and cereals: Paroda

Ludhiana, March 16, 2018: “Sustainable agriculture should not only be around cereals but around legumes and cereals,” said Dr R.S.Paroda, Former Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), and Former Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, while interacting with the senior officials and heads of the departments at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) today. Time has come when focus should be on nutritional security in addition to food security, he observed. Meeting the needs of the small farmers across the globe, strengthening the research on economics, and involving farmers’ participation in research for natural resource management should be the top three priorities, he said. Stating that the system on post-production was weak, Dr Paroda made a call for fortifying it. The corporate sector was already into value addition and there was a need to encourage the farmers to go for this venture for additional benefits, he said. With a lot of agri-challenges being confronted, particularly, water, the present time calls for coming out of routine or traditional agriculture and switching over to alternate crops. “Emphasis should shift from publications to innovations, which should be of relevance for whom we are working,” he remarked.

Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice Chancellor, PAU, while welcoming Dr Paroda and senior faculty of PAU, highlighted University’s accomplishments in research, teaching and extension. He informed about PAU’s digital newspaper ‘Kheti Sandesh’ which has an outreach to nearly 5 lakh farmers. Dr Dhillon also apprised him of the strides made by the University in the cultivation of pulses, fruits and vegetables; food processing; mushroom cultivation; biofertilizers; and transfer of technology.

Dr Navtej Singh Bains, Director of Research, PAU, while giving a presentation, threw light on newly developed crop varieties/hybrids, farm machinery for ecology and economy, and paddy straw management techniques. He pointed out the wrong notions about Punjab’s agriculture including deterioration of soil health, high use of fertilizers and pesticides, stagnation in crop productivity and decrease in farm income. He claimed that soil organic carbon status of Punjab soils was increasing, implementation of integrated pest management in cotton saved the pesticides to the tune of Rs 54 crore in 2016 kharif season and crop productivity of wheat jumped from 12.4 quintal/hectare (1960-61) to 48 q/ha (2011-12 to 2016-17) and that of paddy from 15.5 to 60.0 q/ha during the same years. The monthly income of agriculture household in Punjab is Rs 18,059, which is more than that of Haryana, he revealed.

Dr R.S. Sidhu, Registrar, PAU, proposed the vote of thanks. Dr Dhillon honoured Dr Paroda with a shawl and presented him a set of PAU publications. The meet was attended by deans, directors, additional directors and heads of the departments of the University.

Another reports said:
The Krishi Vigyan Kendra Sangrur organized farmers-scientists interface on March 14 in which Padma Bhushan Dr R S Paroda graced as Chief Guest and had a fruitful discussion with farmers on efficient residue management. He also interacted with farm entrepreneurs and members of Self Help Groups trained by KVK Sangrur. More than 100 farmers and farm women participated in this event.

At the outset Dr. Rajbir Singh, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Ludhiana extended warm welcome to the Chief Guest Padma Bhushan Dr. R. S. Paroda, Former Secretary (DARE) & DG (ICAR) and briefly introduced the farmers. Sharing motive of the interaction programme he told that it aimed at focusing over paddy residue management and to propel the initiatives of farming community towards efficient management by knowing their experience and difficulties in handling the crop residues and taking their feedback to further upscale the paddy residue management programme. He shared that efficient management of crop residues not only reduce environmental pollution but also conserve soil health coupled with increased productivity and enhanced net income. He apprised that the three villages adopted by KVK, Sangrur are setting an example by heading towards zero residue burning villages.

The Chief Guest Dr. Paroda emphasized on incorporation of crop residues into the soil for improving the soil health. He urged that there is a dire need to adopt such technologies which involves low costs without comprising the total production. To conserve natural resources of Punjab he stressed on increased impetus on crop diversification. He suggested for making the farmers aware regarding need based and rational use fertilizers and pesticides to bring down the cost of production. Further, he laid emphasis on market linked farming through formation of farmer producer companies in order to enhance the income of farming community. He desired the KVKs should work endlessly to provide relevant information to farmers for improved crop management and to sharpen their marketing skills.

Dr. M.I.S. Gill, ADR (Horticulture & Food Sciences) called upon farmers to establish close contact with Krishi Vigyan Kendras to learn about latest techniques and recommendations made by PAU for the betterment of farming community.

Dr. M.L. Jat, System Agronomist, CIMMYAT discussed about various techniques and farm machineries for in-situ management of paddy residues.

Dr. Mandeep Singh, Programme Coordinator shared the highlights of various activities being carried out by their KVK.

Progressive farmers S. Nirmal Singh, S. Sadha Singh, S. Dharminder Singh, S. Harwinder Singh, S. Bant Singh, S. Narinderpal Singh, S. Baljinder Singh, S. Sukhwinder Singh, S. Deep Singh participated in disussion and raised the issues of availability of happy seeders, subsidy and GST on farm machinery, etc. alongwith ways to promote crop residue management.

The Programme Coordinator and farmers associated with KVK, Barnala also participated in the deliberations.

The entrepreneurs/SHGs trained by KVK, Sangrur namely Vigour Soy Health Milk, Teg Canola Oil, Kirat Self Help Group, U-Young Honey, Gulab Mushroom Farm displayed their products and shared their experiences with the dignitaries.

The Programme ended with field visit to village Kanoi where the chief guest had an interaction with farmers who have sown their wheat crop using happy seeder technology.