Amid floods, Punjab Agricultural University to hold Kisan Melas without pomp and show

In the September melas, seeds for rabi crops including wheat are sold by the university, considered the purest and of the highest quality, and that too at affordable rates compared to private players.

While the regional fairs for Patiala, Nagkalan Jahangir (Amritsar) and Gurdaspur district stand cancelled for this year due to floods, the one at Faridkot was held Thursday (September 18).

According to the schedule released by the university on its website for upcoming melas, the regional mela at Ballowal Saunkhri will be held on September 20, and the one at Bathinda on September 30.

The biggest two-day Kisan Mela at PAU campus in Ludhiana will be held on September 26 and 27, which is attended by over a lakh farmers every year.

Meanwhile, the university has decided to provide wheat seeds to flood-hit farmers at the lowest possible rates by identifying them through local deputy commissioner’s office, instead of in the PAU melas.

“In the melas, there’s always a chance that the seeds might not reach the genuine flood-hit farmers and some others might take undue advantage of the situation. So we have decided to provide seeds to flood-hit farmers by identifying them through local deputy commissioners,” said Dr TS Riar, additional director (communications), PAU.

He added that unlike previous years when Kisan Melas are held with several entertainment activities such as skits, plays, music and dance, this time the event will be without any pomp and show in solidarity with flood-hit farmers.

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