AT PAU

Dr Manjit Singh Kang,where experts replied to the queries of the participating farmers. Referring to the farmers as stakeholders,Kang said the country will need 276 million tonnes of foodgrain during the next 10 years and the university and farmers of Punjab will have a major role to play in achieving this target. Among others,farmers sought information and solution for low yield of American cotton,harmful side-effects of pesticides,subsidy on wheat seeds,low yield of paddy,disease control on vegetables and fruit crops and the effect of climate change on crops. The queries were also related to marketing of Basmati rice,management of crop residue,tank-mixing of pesticides while making spray solutions and management of foot-rot in paddy.

Kisan Mela

The PAU will hold five Kisan Melas in March. The Director of Extension Education,Dr M S Gill,said the series will begin with a meet at Rauni (Patiala) on March 8. Next,the mela will be held at Ballowal Saunkhri (near Balachaur) on March 11,at Bathinda on March 14,at PAU campus in the city between March 17-18 and at Gurdaspur on March 22. At the melas,the farmers will learn about new technologies for scientific crop production,crop protection,post harvest handling,etc. They will also interact with experts.

Hi-tech cultivation

The Directorate of Extension Education at PAU will organise a two-day training course on hi-tech cultivation of vegetables from January 18 to 19 at Kairon Kisan Ghar. Director of Extension Education,Dr M S Gill,said farmers will be provided know-how on the importance of vegetable growing,net-house cultivation of tomato,capsicum,brinjal,besides,scientific nursery raising,growing vegetables in low tunnel and poly-house,among others.

Terracotta pottery

The PAU’s Department of Family Resource Management organised a workshop on terracotta pottery from January 14-17 for final-year students of BSc (Hons) Home Science and MSc (Family Resource Management).