2-day farmers’ fair: Punjab farmers encouraged to use PAU-developed PBW 826 wheat variety

Dr Bikram Gill, noted wheat breeder from Kansas State University, USA, who was the chief guest, recalled his yesteryears and said, “I am also the son of a farmer. We were eight brothers and my father was a sarpanch. My father was not educated but he ensured that I and my brother received the best education.”

Extolling PAU for its remarkable contribution to the nation’s food buffer and being a world-renowned agricultural institution, Dr Gill urged the farmers to encourage their wards to pursue agricultural education at PAU. He also warned the farmers against the excessive use of water, which in the next 15 years can lead to water insecurity. He urged farmers to conserve five essential resources – land, sunlight, water, air and germplasm; and appealed to them to make responsible use of water.

Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, PAU Vice-Chancellor, called upon the farmers to adopt crop diversification by enhancing the area under basmati and cotton for largescale benefits, avoid sowing summer moong where cotton is being planted, make judicious use of pesticides to avoid rejection of consignments, go in for in-situ paddy straw management, opt for drip irrigation in spring maize, practise integrated farming system model and use solar energy.

He said that the state government was employing matriculate youth as Kisan Mittar (friends of farmers) in more than 12,000 villages of Punjab to help the farmers. “These Kisan Mittars will be trained by PAU and given all the essential agriculture knowledge,” he said.

“PAU-developed wheat variety PBW 826 has also been released in Jammu and Kolkata. Punjab farmers must grow this variety,” he stressed. Dr Gosal advised the farmers to avail the long-term benefits of Skill Development Centre, Food Industry Business Incubation Centre, PAU Kisan App, PAU Inputs App, weekly digital newspaper Kheti Sandesh, PAU Live Programme on Facebook and YouTube, etc.

Dr G S Buttar, Director of Extension Education, voiced concern over pressing challenges of climate change and groundwater depletion. “Out of 150 blocks, 115 blocks have been declared as dark zones,” he said. He advocated paddy transplantation after June 20 and adoption of early maturing, less water-requiring ‘PR’ varieties such as PR 126 of paddy.

Dr Sukhpal Singh, chairman of Punjab State Farmers’ and Farm Workers’ Commission, raised concern over the rising number of farm suicides in Punjab as compared to other states.

“Punjab is having an ardent support of the state government. We invite the feedback and suggestions of the farmers at mobile number 75080-18998 and phone number 0172-2969340 so that a profitable agricultural policy can be framed,” he said to the visiting farmers. He also promoted value addition and agro-processing for lucrative economic returns.

Highlighting the research accomplishments, Dr A S Dhatt, research director, explained the salient characteristics of the newly released varieties of fruits and vegetables, namely Anna and Dorsett Golden of apple, Red Dragon 1 and White Dragon 1 of dragon fruit, Punjab Potato 101 and Punjab Potato 102 of potato, Punjab Khushboo of coriander, PKH 11 of cucumber, Punjab Sarda of muskmelon, Punjab Jamuni and Punjab Roshni of carrot, Punjab Himmat of brinjal, Punjab Lalima of okra, Punjab Bahar Guldaudi 1 and Punjab Bahar Guldaudi 2 of chrysanthemum, Punjab Dek 1 and Punjab Dek 2 of dek, and PMH 14 of maize.

He also threw light on the latest recommendations concerning production and the protection technologies of various crops.

GADVASU Vice-Chancellor Dr Inderjeet Sing said that the ‘Pashu Palan’ mela was organised with the theme ‘eco-friendly livestock farming’.

The excellent germplasm of the university such as cows, buffaloes, goats and poultry were demonstrated to the livestock farmers. The experts delivered talks on the various aspects of livestock, poultry and fish farming and the mechanism and procedures to overcome the common problems faced by them.

Models of integrated livestock farming for enhancing profitability of farmers and their impact on the environment were displayed. Live demonstrations on the various aspects along with sale of milk-testing kit, Mastitis Diagnosis kit, teat-dip practice and acaricide drug application were also demonstrated to the farmers.