NRI farmers, agriculture experts attend PAU conclave, share success stories and tips

From Australia, farmers, namely Agyakar Singh Grewal, Amandeep Singh Sidhu, Gurshaminder Singh and Rumel Singh Toor shared their journeys. Grewal talked about his journey from being a mechanic to a farm entrepreneur while Sidhu said he is an innovator and cultivates exotic fruits and vegetables (blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, cucumbers and dragon fruit).

Singh is a successful horticulturist (cultivates oranges and grapes and markets their juices through processing) and Toor is the first-of-his-kind in Griffith (known for wine making and rice milling in Australia) for the cultivation of wheat, corn, cotton and canola.

Gurpreet Singh Brar, who is a guiding light in berry farming in Canada, and Inder Mann, a public policy expert, urged the Punjab farmers to realise the real value of their fertile land, water and educated youths and recommended the cooperative model of cultivation, processing, packaging and marketing for remunerative returns.

Through video messages from the US, farmers, namely Jasbir Singh Sidhu, Charanjit Singh Batth (popularly called the Raisin King of US) and Gary Chahil provided a deep insight into the cultivation practices of almonds, grapes and pistachios, raising of raisins in California and others. Meanwhile, Gurinder Singh Aujla of California dived into the trials and tribulations to reach the zenith.

Two PAU alumni, Dr Gurreet Pal Brar, assistant professor at California State University, Fresno, where he is contributing immensely to the agricultural research, teaching, and extension activities; and Hardeep Singh, assistant specialist for specific crops and small fields in Fresno, University of California Cooperative Extension, also recalled their rich experiences of making agriculture lucrative for the small farmers.

Besides, Dr Bikram Singh Gill, an eminent wheat breeder who has devoted his entire life to the golden grains, and Kewal Basi, a philanthropist and a factory worker who turned into a successful landowner and businessman, reflected upon the boons and banes of agriculture.

Organic farmer and horticulturist Jagvir Singh Shergill from the US stressed upon ensuring the health and safety of the people and the environment for sustainable agriculture.

Brought up in Tanzania, Rajinder Singh Mand spoke on the cultivation of bananas, sugarcane, lentils and pigeon peas as well as seed multiplication for companies and export of flowers and lentil seeds. As a measure to save water, Mand cultivates sunflower and safflower oilseeds, barley and kidney beans and exports them to European countries.

Gurraj Singh Dhillon, settled in Zambia, talked about growing maize, soybean, vegetables and fresh leaves in addition to being a master in carpentry, mechanics and electrical works.

Punjab agriculture and NRI affairs minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said it is time to seek support from the NRI farmers without whom it is not possible for Punjab farmers to come out of the agrarian crisis. He also urged the NRI farmers to give fruitful suggestions to enhance the income of the farmers through productive marketability and to draft the agriculture policy.

Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, while voicing concern over the agrarian challenges, said: “Agriculture has never been a bed of roses, rather farmers have borne the brunt of all the hardships which ever came in their way. Rolling in the dust, they have done marvels with their efficaciousness and striven hard to feed the ever-growing and demanding population of Punjab and India.” He urged the NRI farmers to suggest out of box solutions to the current challenges of nature resource depletion, weather fluctuations and descending farm income.

Punjab State Farmers and Farm Workers’ Commission chairman Dr Sukhpal Singh said that the vital information received in the form of feedback from the Punjab farmers as well as the NRI farmers during the milni would be taken into consideration while finalising the agriculture policy.