Virtual Field Day organised on summer moong and summer mash at PAU

Ludhiana: The Department of Extension Education organised field day on online platform where about 40 farmers from Bathinda and Ludhiana district participated. Result demonstrations have been laid down on “use of leguminous crops in the crop rotation” which is one of the components of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM). A total of 30 acres have been covered under the demonstration where moong variety; SML 832 & mash variety ; Mash 1137 were grown. The farmers participated from Village: Bhundri&Kanech , Ludhiana and Village: Killinihal Singh Wala, Bathinda.

Dr Kuldeep Singh, Head, Department of Extension Education encouraged the farmers for showing their full participation in laying down of demonstration. He urged them to bring their strong linkages with PAU for scientific advisories. He also highlighted the essential role of growing pulses in their own field which shall meet their nutritional security. He also congratulated the farmers and the scientists for the successful functioning of the farmer’s information centre of PAU established at Village Kanech and Bhundri, Ludhiana.

Dr L. Mohapatra, Assistant Professor, Ext Edu & PI of the project under which these demonstrations have been laid down appraised the participating farmers regarding the importance of 7 components of INM in cultivation of crops and the role of leguminous crops in maintenance of soil health. She presented the virtual journey of the farmers in laying down of the demonstration from sowing to harvesting of the crop.

Dr Vivek Sharma, Assistant Soil Chemist,& Co PI of the project laid stress upon the soil testing and judicious management of fertilisers. He also elaborated the micronutrient deficiency in the crops and the management of it. Dr Harpreet Kaur Virk, Senior Agronomist (Pulses) described to the farmers the cultivation aspects of Summer moong & Summer mash.

Mr SherAjit Singh, Agriculture Extension Officer, Bhundri Circle, Sidhwan Bet, Ludhiana approached the farmers to save water and adopt natural resource conservation technologies recommended by PAU. He laid a lot of emphasis on the cultivation on the cultivation of short duration varieties of Paddy which will be instrumental in the saving of water. He was elated by appraising the farmers that there has been significant adoption of short duration variety PR 126 in Bhundri Agriculture circle. He credited the efforts made by the Department of Extension Education for timely providing the product and advisory services at field level.

Dr Manmeet Kaur, Associate Professor & Co PI of the project conducted the virtual field tour of the farmers and appreciated them for coming forward and building strong linkages with PAU. She also advised them to move towards the marketing of the produce cultivated by them. She urged them to form groups for marketing of their produce after primary processing. She also encouraged them to shift the crop rotation with diversified crop.

The field day ended with experience sharing of the farmers regarding the laying down of the demonstrations. The farmers also showed their demonstration field virtually to the other participating farmers.