Pau Board of Management member Avtar Singh Dhindsa inaugurated a day-long Kisan Mela at Ballowal Saunkhri, Balachaur, in Nawanshahr district, today. The mela was organised by the Directorate of Extension Education, PAU.
In his inaugural address, Dhindsa called upon farmers to go in for precision farming by following the scientific techniques evolved by the PAU.
He advised them to adopt the way of diversification in agriculture by growing other alternate crops, which would help conserve the water resources of Punjab and the environment would also be saved.
Dhindsa also appealed to the university experts to explore how the income of the Punjab farmers can be increased. He emphasised that farmers should go in for the cultivation of pulses, vegetables, fruits, flowers and oilseed crops to meet the requirement of the country. Because there is greater scope of cultivation of fruit plants in Kandi area, like mango, lemon, guava, amla, kinnow and ber, therefore, the farmers must plan their crops and develop their own markets.
Encouraging women to participate in these melas, Dhindsa said as women are equally engaged in agricultural work, it has become a family affair. Therefore, women should attend these melas to know the scientific techniques related to important issues, like storage of seeds, marketing, animal husbandry and childcare.
He cautioned people to get rid of social evils, like use of drugs, female foeticide and over-expenditure on marriages and other social gatherings.
Speaking on the occasion, Director of Extension Education Dr N.S. Malhi said the Kandi area is not suitable for paddy crop but for horticulture. Maize is the major crop of the area. He advised farmers to grow fruits and vegetables to meet their personal needs.
Emphasising the need for diverting at least three lakh hectare land to horticulture, Dr Malhi advised the farmers to contact the National Horticulture Mission for subsidies and financial assistance. The University is recommending the plantation of guava, ber, amla and other fruit plants for the Kandi area. He advised the farmers to go in for processing of their horticultural produce. This would add to their profit and provide job opportunities for the unemployed.
Dr Malhi said some of the area under paddy cultivation could be diverted to the cultivation of ‘Sathi Moongi’. The farmers could go in for the summer moong-soybean-maize crop cycle. This would not only increase their agricultural income but also improve the soil health, he added.